This year, Veterans Day will be observed on Monday, November 11th, and that will be a day when everyone should take the time to thank a veteran for service to their country, and for helping to protect the way of life we all enjoy. In Stanwood and elsewhere around the country, people will be remembering the contributions of military personnel, and appreciating the fact that their service has been crucial to the continuance of democracy in America. Senior home care professionals, like other workers throughout the land, will express their gratitude in several possible ways that each of us might also choose to express.
Be there for a Veteran
There will undoubtedly be a Veterans Day Parade somewhere near where you live, and you should attend it as a way of saying ‘thank you’ to all our nation’s veterans. These are very special events that hold a great deal of meaning to veterans, as well as to all those in attendance. If you aren’t sure where the nearest local parade will be, all you have to do is contact a nearby American Legion or VFW post to obtain the information. While you’re at it, you can also find out about any other events which are scheduled in your area to observe Veterans Day.
Write a letter
Just about everyone knows a veteran, either as an acquaintance, a friend of the family, a co-worker, or perhaps a neighbor. Sit down and write a letter to a veteran you know, and tell them how much you appreciate the service they gave to our country. Tell them how you make use of all the freedoms available in the US, which they helped to provide and maintain. This will let your veteran know that the period of their service was well spent and that none of the time was wasted.
You could also take things up a notch, and ask your veteran if there’s any service you can provide to them in return. Perhaps they just want someone to talk to occasionally, or they could use a ride to the grocery store – any small little favor you can do for them will probably be greatly appreciated. Even if there are absolutely no veterans in your circle of acquaintances, you can still write a somewhat generic letter to a veterans organization or a VA Hospital, where you can be sure that your letter will find its way into the hands of a real veteran. You’ll feel good about having made the effort, and the veteran will feel good about being appreciated for their efforts.
Talk to a Veteran
Most people enjoy talking about themselves and recounting some of the details of their lives, and veterans are no exception. Many veterans have some hair-raising events they can talk about, and are glad to do so, whenever anyone actually engages with them and is truly interested in finding out about their life. Even if the veteran is a total stranger, there are plenty of subjects you can talk about – their time in service, the places they’ve been to, the work they did, or the most cherished memories about their service life.
The fact that someone is interested enough to ask them about these things will be the part that appeals to most veterans because it means someone cared enough to ask questions about their life. You don’t need to dig deep, looking for war stories, just ask them what it meant to them to volunteer some part of their life for military service.
Visit a VA hospital
Every VA hospital has veterans inside who are unable to leave the premises, and who would appreciate some company, especially on Veterans Day. Each of them contributed several years of their life to help keep you safe, so it shouldn’t be too much to ask if you donate a couple of hours of your time to make them feel better on their special day.
Those veterans who are at the hospital for an extended stay will be especially grateful for some company, because they probably are unable to get outdoors at the moment, and they’ll be glad to chat with someone who brings news of outdoor happenings. Almost anyone who is really sick appreciates the company, and will get a lift in spirits when visited by another person who cares.
Remember them
Whatever else you do on Veterans Day, make sure to just take a moment and remember our country’s veterans. Maybe you can view a documentary film or read a short book on the specific contributions of veterans, but do something which re-kindles the spark given by veterans to this country. Keep in mind that our nation might be a very different place if millions of veterans hadn’t contributed their efforts, and in some cases their lives, to keep this country free. Remember – they gave something of themselves so that you would not be obliged to do the same.