How to Honor a Veteran and Celebrate Veterans Day

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Any person who has served in our Armed Forces
Respect and honor for any Veteran

Step 1

veterans day site

Learn all you can about Veterans Day. Visit the official Veterans Day site (resource link below) to read its history. 2009 will mark the 90th Anniversary of Veterans Day.
Step 2

veterans day poster gallery

While on the official Veterans Day website, visit the Veterans Day Poster Gallery link (resource link below). This site offers Veterans Day Posters from 1978 to present for download. The size of the posters are 8x10, 100 dpi for printing.
Step 3

red white and blue

Bake the Veteran a cake or cookies. Find out their favorite flavor of cake or cookie, before Veterans Day arrives. Your baked good will be extra special if you deliver the Veterans favorite flavor. Make sure to box the cake or cookies into a nice box, perhaps decorated with a patriotic theme.
Step 4

american flag

Display the American flag on your property. The American flag is a symbol of our freedom in this country. The Veterans in your life fought for that freedom. There are many ways to display a flag (resource link below). Make sure you display your American flag in the right way to honor your Veterans.
Step 5

national cemetery

Visit a National Cemetery. National cemeteries in the United States were originally formed in 1862, when President Abraham Lincoln signed legislation to authorize the federal government to purchase land for military Veterans and service members burials; "for soldiers who shall have died in the service of the country.” You need not have a bloodline connection to anyone in the cemetery for you to feel moved when you visit a national cemetery. Visit the link below to see a full map of all National Cemeteries. You can click on the map to find the specific National Cemeteries within your state.
Step 6

veterans day poster

Say thank you to the Veteran in your life by sending them flowers or cards on their special day. Step #2 explains where to find Veterans Day Posters. Run out the year that the Veteran in your life served, if it was after 1978. If it was before that year, simply run out the 2008 poster. Put the poster in a nice frame and present it to the Veteran on Veterans Day.
Step 7

Cook the Veteran breakfast, lunch or dinner. Find out the Veterans favorite food, and offer to make it for them. Explain to the Veteran that you appreciate all they did when they served our country; now you would like the honor of serving them a meal. Or take the Veteran out for a drink. Sitting in a social situation with a drink is a terrific time to ask your Veteran about any special Armed Forces/War stories they would like to share with you.
Step 8

war memorial

Visit a War Memorial. This may be a small stone placed on a local church property honoring those locals who gave their lives to a war, or it can be as big as the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC. Visit the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery. The Tomb has been guarded continuously since 1937, with the Changing of the Guard happening at different times depending on the time of the year. To witness the changing of the Guard is very moving experience.
Step 9

military museum

Visit a Veteran or Military Museum. Check your local area for a list of Museums and times and days those museums are open. Take the Veterans in your life along. You'd be amazed at the stories that may crop up as you and the Vets walk along exhibits that bring up memories.
Step 10

va hospital

Visit your local VA Hospital to find out information on their Volunteer program. Many patients at the VA Hospitals are alone, with little or no family to help them or visit them. I know from personal experience how important the VA Hospital system is, because my father was a Veteran and was a patient of the VA system for 8 years. My father passed away this past April of heart failure from complications of his diabetes. So we spent many hours at the VA over the last 8 years, and I saw so many caring and giving people interact with my dad during his many stays at the hospital. There were people who held shows for the patients, people who came in and did crafts with the patients, and certified people who brought their dogs in for the patients. A lonely Vet in the hospital would be absolutely thrilled if you took an extra hour of your day and visited with them.

Comments

mfahrney said

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on 11/21/2008 Wonderful and very patriotic message. God bless those that serve our Great Country!!

iamageniuster said

on 11/11/2008 Very neat article. Thanks for sharing with us.

on 11/11/2008 I always called my Dad on Veteran's Day. He was very proud of his Navy service to his country and I enjoyed hearing his stories. I would love to see our Vets better cared for now. Thank you!