Veterans, active military traveling through O'Hare, Midway get special salute

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Military travelers passing through Chicago's airports will get a special salute on Friday.

McDonald's will hand out a free small coffee and an apple pie to active and veteran military personnel at all O'Hare International Airport and Midway Airport restaurant locations. Other select restaurants will also offer free or discounted food and beverages to traveling military personnel.

Flags will festoon both airports and on Thursday, O'Hare and Midway passengers will be entertained by a variety of live music from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. That day at Midway, free lemonade will be distributed by airport "ambassadors."

Chicago's airports are predicting about a 4 percent increase in travelers this Fourth of July holiday compared to last year.

O'Hare is expecting 1.6 million air travelers over the Independence Day holiday, Chicago Aviation Department spokeswoman Karen Pride said by email on Wednesday.

Monday, July 7, is shaping up to be O'Hare's busiest day of the travel period, which Pride said stretches from July 2 to July 8. More than 241,000 O'Hare travelers are expected Monday, Pride said.

Midway is bracing for its busiest day one day earlier - on Sunday, July 6. More than than 72,000 Midway passengers are planning travel that day - of more than 461,000 anticipated over the holiday, Pride said.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.