Honoring Heroes: 10 Ways to Show Appreciation This Veterans Day

The 11th of November is always a variety of Remembrance Day in the U.S. when people honor those in the American military service. Veterans face multiple struggles penetrating the lives of their families, physical health, and jobs after the war not to mention their mental health. We often hear so many people saying thank you to veterans but there are many things we can do to express our appreciation. Here are ten ways veterans, active duty military or family and friends can find meaning in this Veterans Day.

Watch a Veterans Day Parade or a Ceremony

People in towns and cities across the country also imagine their parades and ceremonies as public celebrations of community connection with veterans. Being present at these occasions, on one hand, demonstrates its support to their cause; on the other hand, it gives families, friends, and neighbors, a common platform to extend tribute to the veterans. A lot of these parades include soldiers, retirees, military musicians, armed forces jeeps and wagons bearing symbols and themes of patriotism. If it is not feasible to go physical to an event around your community, you can watch it online for example by watching the uploaded video or watching a live show on your living room screen as you attend an online event.

Write Thank-You Letters to Veterans

But there is something very special and significant in a handwritten thank-you card, for example. Most veterans like receiving letters from those who appreciate the efforts they made to serve the nation, groups such as Operation Gratitude and A Million Thanks will assist. To this, add expressing thankfulness for their hard work and the valuableness of their sacrifice and your appreciation of it. This act can be more touching for the veterans who in their day-to-day lives may not be accorded a simple ‘thank you.’

Donate to Veteran-Focused Charities

Veterans present special difficulties, including readjustment to civilian lifestyle, reintegration into the community, PTSD or acquiring proper health care and shelter. The individual can also contribute to veteran organizations such as the Wounded Warrior Project, Fisher House Foundation, and Gary Sinise Foundation their contributions could help fund vital services for counseling for combat trauma, medical services, and education or jobs for veterans and housing assistance. Your contribution could benefit organizations acting directly with a veteran community to tackle these significant problems and offer the necessary aid and security.

Visit a Veteran 

To the elderly, clients with certain illnesses or disabilities or those with certain constraints that limit their mobility, simple visits do go a long way. It may be nice to go visit veterans in nursing homes ourselves or call on nursing homes or VA Hospitals and just share a smile or a few words to make their day. In other cases, you should try to spend time listening to their stories playing with them, or even having a meal together. If you can go there physically, then that’s great, if not then many of them accept letters or you could even send a package. Such a small thing as this may go a long way in making veterans feel included and wanted by their community.

 

 

Volunteer with Organizations 

We can say that there are a plethora of opportunities aimed at volunteering to work with veterans. For example, numerous nonprofit organizations involved in giving mental health care, employment assistance or support to the homeless, base themselves on volunteers to amplify their networks. Volunteers may help veterans find a job prepare resumes, or help them find a house and other necessities or set up recreational activities. VolunteerMatch website as well as local community boards can help you find a volunteer job. All the time and effort you invest go directly to making the lives of veterans better in some ways.

Tell Stories of Veterans on Social Media

It’s effective in honoring vets and since it can get the word out to thousands of people, it should be done in full view. Write posts about a military family member or a veteran in your community, or use articles and videos of the veterans’ stories and efforts. You can use the hashtag #VeteransDay to amplify your posts concerning the senior posts, to draw more attention to the topic of the day to ensure your network increases its recognition of the significance of the day. It may encourage other people to pay respect to the veterans also.

Purchase Products from Veterans

Buying from veteran businesspersons is one way one can show appreciation, and at the same time assist other veterans in fulfilling their visions in society as they transition from active service. It can range from coffee roast masters, clothing brands, and services that directly serve the community; these are mostly held by sundown veterans. The National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA) is a valuable resource for locating owners of veteran businesses as are local business directories. Some of the messages Segment 2 includes are: The act of spending money at these businesses means that they are appreciated and people care about their input.

Teach youngsters about the Veterans and Military Service

It is a good time to explain to young people what veterans are and their purpose in our lives, and within our nation. It has become a nice opportunity for schools and parents to discuss history lessons, show documentaries, or invite veterans to make a speech in class. They help introduce an important understanding of the role that veterans have played in society and the establishment of a sense of social perspective-taking. The same considerations can be taken when choosing books like America’s White Table by Margot Raven or The Wall by Eve Bunting; kids will have a basis of understanding regarding showing respect to vets that will last a lifetime.

How to Properly Show the American Flag

Flying the American flag is a traditional way for people to honor the veterans of the military. Although many individuals fly this flag on Veteran’s Day, it is important to do it right and with the correct knowledge of the flag codes. For example, it should be raised briskly, but lowered slowly and with dignity and should never be allowed to fall, nor should it be dirty or fraying. If you spend 5 minutes warming yourself up, you are respecting the sign of the country for which many veterans fought, and some truly value this.

Simply Say “Thank You”

At other times, the most basic of movements is where the most can be said. Say thank you to a veteran if you know one in person or from your heart, you can offer gratitude. A real “thank you for your service” tells them that you appreciate what they did and it was not in vain. The thing that I believe to be powerful is to say thank you to a family member, friend, or even an unfamiliar person, whom you came across this Veterans Day. To the ones that have servants in the Army navy or Marines, these words can be comforting that their services are valued.

Conclusion

This Veterans Day, simply thanking them and acknowledging their service does not cut it – it is about action. Whether you join a parade, write a letter to your elected officials, send a donation or simply take the time to say ‘thank you’ to a veteran, you are supporting the efforts that ensure that our veterans are both seen, respected and most of all; appreciated. All these men and women have paid a lot in their efforts to protect our country and we think it is high time that we honored them. This Veterans Day, it’s time to draw people and organizations toward an endless quest to honor the brave men and women in our midst.

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