Veteran's Day

Christmas time is usually a time when we try to teach it’s better to give than to receive.  There are many things that you can do during this season to give back to others. We are living in a time when it seems everyone is so divided. I believe that one thing we can agree on, is how grateful we are to our armed service members and veterans. The holiday season is an especially hard and trying time for our service men and women who are deployed. This is also an extremely difficult time of the year for family members with loved ones who are deployed.  

I can tell you just how hard the holidays are, when your loved is away. A time that should be filled with such joy is consumed by worry and sadness. My husband Scott spent our first 18 months of marriage deployed. During that time, we spent many holidays apart.  It is extremely hard on the family and adds more stress to an already stressful time of the year. 

We did not have children at the time he was deployed. I cannot even imagine how hard it is for those with children.  My husband travels for work now and I know how hard it is with small children. My kids get incredibly sad when he’s gone, and my son asks for him at least 37 times a day. I know Scott will be back in a couple of days, but that is not the case with parents of those deployed.  I remember a friend of ours had a baby in September and then her husband was deployed right after.  He was gone for a year. Do you know how much you miss of a child’s first year of their life? ALOT!!!!

I literally do not even know how they do it.  These men and women deserve our undying gratitude…. They  made a sacrifice that will never be repaid to them. 

I would love during this holiday season, instead of complaining about how others are disrespecting our veterans and armed forces.  If we took the time to act on that and show some form of gratitude…actions speak louder than words. 

In the spirit of random acts of kindness, we can display gratitude and support for our armed service communities and their family members. I have put a list together of things that can be done to thank a veteran.

1. The easiest and most obvious… actually THANK A VETERAN.

Seems easy right, but have you actually done it lately. My husband is the most observant person you will ever meet. He looks at hats, tattoos, and shirts.  He can spot someone in the military like it’s a sixth sense. He always asks them if they are in the service and when they say “yes”, he then thanks them for their service. Most of the time he doesn’t even tell them he was in the military.  It’s completely simple and easy.

2. Buy them a drink, coffee or even lunch. One thing I thought was incredibly kind was when Scott and some of his fellow army buddies were at the airport coming back from overseas, an individual bought their lunch.  Now that’s a pretty expensive way to say thank you, but to those guys it was a great gesture.  
3. A simple gesture. I remember a time when I was with my husband and my in-laws shopping at the mall at Christmas time. We came back to their car and there was a small note on their windshield. It read:

          Thank you for your service. Hope you have a wonderful holiday season. Merry Christmas!

That was so touching, I literally had tears in my eyes. Apparently, they saw the Vietnam Veterans of America bumper sticker on my in-law’s car. How nice was that, such a simple gesture that honestly meant so much.  Someone took the time to get a piece of paper and write a note. I can say that was a moment I think about often and know how appreciative veterans are to hear someone say thank you!

4. Send a care package or card at Christmas. I had a friend that was a teacher when my husband was deployed. I thought it was so very sweet that she had her class send Christmas cards to him.
5. Give to a charity of your choice that benefits Veterans. 

There are many incredible organizations to benefit Veterans. My favorite one around this time of year is probably Toys For Tots

Maybe instead of spending five or six dollars on a very overpriced cup of coffee or paying for someone else’s coffee. Take that money and go to the Dollar Store and grab five or six presents and donate to the Toys for Tots box. I guarantee the kids of military families would appreciate it way more than the person you paid for their coffee behind you in line.  

6. Wreaths Across America –sponsor a wreath here

This is a touching way to remember and honor those who have served and given their lives. You can volunteer to lay the wreaths,  sponsor a wreath or donate to a local fundraising group.  

There is no way to replace the overwhelming worry and utter sadness one feels when their loved one is deployed. I hope this holiday season we can make a real effort to show some gratitude to our military service men and women and their families. Let’s not just say we support them. Let’s actually act on it!