With nearly 18 million United States Veterans having served in the armed forces, it’s important to celebrate Veterans Day respectfully.
Unlike other holidays, it seems like a challenge to celebrate Veterans Day due to its serious nature. However, it’s essential to show respect and honor those who have served in the armed forces.
Whether you have a veteran in your life or want to show your support, knowing how to celebrate is essential for this day. Keep reading for some of the best ways to show your respect next Veterans Day.
1. Spend Time With Local Veterans
One of the best ways to honor veterans is to spend time with them! Whether you dedicate the day to a loved one who served or decide to visit a local veterans organization, this is a sentimental way to celebrate.
If you have children, you can bring them along as well. Urge your children to ask the veterans questions and listen to their stories. You can even have your children ask to see their Army, Air Force, or Navy challenge coins which are often gifted to them.
You can even ask to look through photos with those who have served This is a great way for veterans to share sentimentality with you! Plus, looking at pictures may help them recall interesting stories and anecdotes about the time they served.
In some cases, some veterans may not want to talk about their time in the service. Don’t try to push or pry information out of them, as military service can be traumatic for some. If they choose not to speak about their time in the service, you should still spend time with them and chat about other topics.
2. Create a Care Package
One of the best things to do when celebrating Veterans Day is to create a care package to send to a current service member.
You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars for your care package to be appreciated by service members. Adding the essentials is a great way to help current service members feel appreciated.
If you’re not sure what to include in the package, consider the following:
- Socks, gloves, scarves (depending on where they are stationed)
- Sunglasses and sunblock
- Snacks
- Games
- Stationery
- Handmade items, like cards
These items don’t have to be extravagant to be appreciated by our troops. You can send these items to those you know personally, or if you don’t know anyone in the service, you can find a list of service members online and choose randomly.
3. Show Your Support
One of the best ways to honor Veterans Day is by supporting local businesses owned and operated by those who have served.
There are many small businesses owned by those who have served, and shopping there is a great way to give back to your community and the community of veterans.
If you’re unsure where or how to find Veteran-owned businesses, you can look online or contact your chamber of commerce for a list of stores in your area.
In the chance there are no veteran-owned businesses around you, you can still support those who have served monetarily. Shopping at stores that donate proceeds from sales to veteran organizations is a great way to show your support.
Similarly, you can also donate to charities that support veterans. From donating old clothing, shoes, and bedding to participating in a local food drive, you can show your support by giving back to those who have served.
4. Decorate Your Yard
Though many think Independence Day is the only time you can show off patriotic decor, Veterans Day is a great way to show your support and respect for past troops.
Before you break out the flag, you may stop to ask yourself, “when is Veterans Day, anyway?” This holiday falls on November 11th every year.
When November approaches, you can start breaking out the patriotic decor. One of the easiest ways to show appreciation is by hanging the American flag. However, you’ll want to read the rules of the flag to ensure it’s flying correctly.
You can also display signs that express gratitude for those who have served. Whether you hang a homemade sign in your window or purchase a lawn sign, this is a great way to show local veterans that they are appreciated by their community.
5. Teach Your Children
Finally, one of the best ways Veterans Day ideas is to teach your children about the history of the holiday.
Explaining what Veterans Day is and who a Veteran is, helps children understand why we celebrate. In some communities, you can find a parade to honor those who have served, which is a great place to bring your child. This shows them how celebrated veterans are.
You can watch age-appropriate documentaries about specific wars or battles. Similarly, there is an abundance of age-appropriate books that explain why veterans are an essential and respected community.
Another idea that helps children understand the seriousness of the holiday is to tour, whether in person or virtually, war memorials. This allows your children to understand the gravity of wartime eras.
Celebrate Veterans Day With These Sentimental Ideas
Though it seems challenging to recognize Veterans Day in a respectful manner, these ideas can help show your support for those who have served and sacrificed for the United States.
If you’re ready to celebrate Veterans Day thanks to these ideas, you’ll want to check out the rest of our website. There, you can find more helpful lifestyle tips and tricks.