COLUMBUS, Ohio (10TV) -- Businesses are giving back by offering freebies on Veterans Day. But one business does it every month. Some are visiting a spa for a different kind of stress relief.
When it comes to taking time to unwind, Mark McMullen knows he needs it. Mark spent 20 years in the Army National Guard, mobilized for desert storm as a truck driver.
"I was diagnosed with PTSD and I don't like to be medicated and all of the chemicals," he says.
For that reason, he tried something else, a different kind of spa, where people experience flotation therapy.
With 1,000 pounds of Epsom salt, the buoyancy of the water makes floating on water feel like floating on air.
"I decided to give it a shot and it worked out pretty good. It helps relieve my stress, anxiety, depression," McMullen explains.
What's even better is that Mark did it for free. The owner, Patrick Gerke is also a veteran, who decided to offer floating once a month for free to those who served.
"There's a need and a lot of veterans are trying to move towards not taking pills, looking for natural ways to get their relief," Gerke says.
"It'll crack you up having that whole generational gap, our WW2 vets to our young guys. What's neat is the stories coexist," he says, "It's also kind of the therapy in here, the comradery and people getting to talk."
Mark says after that first free float, he's been back many times. And on this Veterans Day he appreciates businesses like this one, who recognize the men and women who served.
"The Veterans Day discounts, yeah, I like them, especially the food," McMullen says.
True float spa offers the free service on the 11th of every month to veterans. You do have to make an appointment.
Since 2015, True REST Float Spa has given away almost 3,000 complimentary floats to U.S. active-duty military and veterans.