By Molly O. Hudson
Veteran’s Day is the day when we honor the service of military veterans or people who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It doesn’t matter how long the veteran served, or whether they served in a time of peace or war. However, it can be difficult to show gratitude toward someone when you may not understand what he or she has experienced or sacrificed. Here are some simple things that you can do to thank the veterans that you encounter.
Please don’t confuse Veteran’s Day with Memorial Day. While they can be easy to confuse, they are two distinct holidays. Veteran’s Day is about honoring all veterans, living and deceased. Memorial Day is about honoring the people who have lost their lives while in service to their country.
Please observe the proper rules for handling and displaying the American flag. Consult the Flag Code if you are unsure what those rules are. Service members spend a great deal of time learning these rules, and respect for the flag is enforced from day one.
Be conscientious when speaking to veterans about their service. Don’t ask if they’ve ever killed someone, do you actually want to know the answer to that? However you can ask them about where they’ve traveled to, or about the camaraderie they gained.
Donate your time or money to veteran’s organizations. Many of these organizations are working to ensure that veterans have the resources they need to reintegrate into civilian life.
Most service members and veterans do not want to be placed on a pedestal or called heroes. Rather than resorting to hero worship or elevating them to a celebrity status, acknowledge their sacrifice with a sincere thank you.
Veteran’s Day is the day when we honor the service of military veterans or people who have served in the United States Armed Forces. It doesn’t matter how long the veteran served, or whether they served in a time of peace or war. However, it can be difficult to show gratitude toward someone when you may not understand what he or she has experienced or sacrificed. Here are some simple things that you can do to thank the veterans that you encounter.
Please don’t confuse Veteran’s Day with Memorial Day. While they can be easy to confuse, they are two distinct holidays. Veteran’s Day is about honoring all veterans, living and deceased. Memorial Day is about honoring the people who have lost their lives while in service to their country.
Please observe the proper rules for handling and displaying the American flag. Consult the Flag Code if you are unsure what those rules are. Service members spend a great deal of time learning these rules, and respect for the flag is enforced from day one.
Be conscientious when speaking to veterans about their service. Don’t ask if they’ve ever killed someone, do you actually want to know the answer to that? However you can ask them about where they’ve traveled to, or about the camaraderie they gained.
Donate your time or money to veteran’s organizations. Many of these organizations are working to ensure that veterans have the resources they need to reintegrate into civilian life.
Most service members and veterans do not want to be placed on a pedestal or called heroes. Rather than resorting to hero worship or elevating them to a celebrity status, acknowledge their sacrifice with a sincere thank you.