5 Ways to Acknowledge Veteran's Day

Perhaps because it typically doesn’t bring the fun associated with a 3-day weekend, Veteran’s Day often slides by without much notice. Yet, what could be more worthy of our attention than the brave men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line for our freedom, and the amazing families that sacrifice to support them?

Veteran’s Day is Friday, November 11, and I urge you to make a plan to pause and observe the day. Here are 5 ideas on how to take part.

Visit or Volunteer at a V.A. Facility

Michigan is home to more than 700,000 veterans. Many of them are still seeking treatment in medical facilities around the state. Show that you care by volunteering, or just paying a visit. To find facilities serving veterans in your area click HERE.

Donate a Gift or Calling Card

If you don’t have anyone specific to send to, or don’t know what to send, you can help them make purchases of their own by donating gift or calling cards. Gift cards may be sent to any recipient who has exchange privileges. These cards, available in values from $10-$500, are redeemable at any Navy or Marine Corps exchange facility worldwide for most purchases of merchandise or services. Calling cards are also available to help them stay connected with family and friends back home.  Click HERE to learn more about card donations, including organizations that can help you donate to members of the service that you don’t know.

Join Homefront Hugs

Homefront Hugs was founded on October 11, 2001, by Alessandra Kellermann, a former USAF pilot’s wife and daughter of a Foreign Service Officer and Army Officer.  It is now a national volunteer organization, headquartered in Ann Arbor, with over 10,000 active members and 50,000 members in all. You can help by choosing from a variety of missions, like writing a card to our wounded troops and the medical staff who care for them; adopting a deployed hero or heroine (hundreds are now on their waiting list); adopting a wounded veteran now home; or a brave family dealing with one of these many long deployments. You can even be one of the first to start a Homefront Hugs Kids or Teens Club in your school supporting our heroes. To learn more visit www.HomefrontHugs.com.

Honor Fallen Heroes

Many cities and towns across the state have military memorials. Some honor those lost from that community, while others commemorate the fallen sons and daughters of an entire nation. Some statues pay homage to a specific conflict, while others honor service in general. Discover the memorials near you, and take a few moments to visit and reflect on the lives lost and freedoms won. They can present an excellent teaching opportunity to share with kids.

Proclaim Your Support through Social Media

Most people have taken to using some kind of social media these days like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Peoplemovers, Google+, etc. Many of our service members are using those sites as well. A simple way to show them that we care, not only on Veteran’s Day, but on any day is to use those tools to send a public message. Mark your calendar, set yourself a reminder, and be sure to make a statement or two of gratitude to those who serve, on November 11, 2011. 

To learn about many other ways to honor and support our troops, visit the Department of Military & Veteran & Affairs.

If you've got additional ideas on how to support our active military and veterans, please comment here so others can get involved.