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| Military Appreciation |
| Many people know at least one person serving in their military; whether it be a friend, or someone in your family. These people make up the troops that are out there every day, fighting for your freedom and to ensure that you are safe. If it is possible, which it is, why not honor the veteransand soldiers in your country for more than just one or a couple day(s) a year? What could I do, you might ask? There are plenty of ways you can contribute right in your community that can immensely impact the lives currently fighting for you - overseas or wherever that may be. Here are a couple things I have done in the past that were easily accessible for me: 1. When you come across someone in a military uniform, take a minute to stop and thank them for currently, or previously, serving for your country. An example of this would be,“Thank you for your service. I want you to know that I really appreciate what you do for my country”. It is a small gesture, but it means more to them than you would think. I make it a habit that when I see someone in uniform, I go up to them and shake their hand, as well as thank them for their services. The smiles they have on their faces afterwards show how much they appreciate it! 2. Get a couple friends together and make a care package! A care package is a collaboration of items that you send overseas to a soldier. This can range anywhere from toiletries to food! Be creative when choosing things! Remember that shipping may be longer than originally expected or planned, so it is always best to choose things that do not spoil quickly. My friends and I choose to do toiletries! We included things such as razors, shaving cream, tooth paste, and disposable toothbrushes... because the little things really do count.
3. Send a troop or soldier newspapers after you have read them and are ready to throw them out. Although they may be old to you, it will be new for them, and will allow them to stay in touch with what is going on at home. It is always nice to read about home when you are far away. 4. A low-cost item that can do a lot for someone is a journal! You can normally find some at your local supermarket orgrocery store for under a $1.00. Soldiers have a lot of free time on their hands, and a journal is something they can record their daily happenings in. It is a valuable thing to look back on, and can be given to that person’s family to read upon returning. It could then be passed down for generations to come. It may not seem that important now, but their recollections could once very well become an important piece of history.
5. Send a troop something that can be used ANYWHERE. An example of this would be a Frisbee - it can provide hours of entertainment for a large group! Another idea of something to send is a deck of cards. Card-playing is always a fun activity to do with a group of people.
6. Visit or send cards and notes to Veteran homes in your area. Many often feel alone and forgotten, but sending them a nice card can reassure them that there are people that care about what they have done for their country. A few months ago, I went to a housing unit for disabled Veterans to hang up cards along the walls so that they would brighten up a bit (they were plain white!). It was the cutest thing when they all came rushing out of their rooms to read what my school had written for them. I am proud to say we provided over 200 cards to stick on the walls - each one having a hand-written note from kids that attended my school.
7. Whether it be a big or small one, fly your country’s flag at your house! It is a huge symbol of respect, and shows people that you support the troops from your country. If you have a smaller one, hanging it up in your room could work, too. I have one in my front yard that is up, and our spotlight at the bottom of it turns on at night so that it can be seen at all times!
8. You know those free toiletries that you get when you are at a hotel? Or free samples of things you get in stores or magazines? Those are both great examples of things you can send to troops, and they come at no cost for you! Make it a habit to collect any complimentary shampoos, conditioners, toothbrushes, etc. that you find in your hotel room so that you can use those things to send to soldiers later in things like care packages! The same goes for in stores and magazines!
9. An important part of supporting your troops is caring for their families back home while they are away. These people deal with the fear that their loved one(s) might not ever return home, as well as any hardships that accompany not having their special someone there for an extended period of time. Try giving gift cards and certificates for local restaurants to the family, because sometimes they don’t get the luxury of just ‘going out to eat’ when money is tight. If you are unable to do that, try just offering to do simple things to help around their house and/or yard. This can include raking the leaves, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, and so on. My cousin Mark is currently in the military, and we visit his soon-to-be wife Jessica often to check up on her and see how she is doing.
10. You can even donate right from your very own computer! But remember to check the background of sites before donating to ensure sure that your money is going where it is supposed to be. Because I am from the United States, I listed below a couple sites that I have found to be trustable sources. However, there are plenty of sites just like these ones that you can find in your hometown and country by doing a little surfing on the Internet. Let me know in the comments if you find or know of any sites so that I can check them out!
A couple ones I was able to find:
- About it: A Million Thanks is an organization that helps to ensure your letters get received by troops overseas. There are drop-off locations in most states that you can drive to to give them your thank you letters and notes. Look for your state on the map and see what the nearest drop-off center is to you! You can also donate money on this site via paypal.
- About it: Homes for Our Troops helps people who have serviced and returned home with disabilities and injuries by providing money and labor to buy and construct/build homes. This site takes credit cards such as Visas, Mastercards, and debit cards for forms of payment for donations.
Do you know anyone that is currently serving or has previously served in the military? Tell me about them below in the comments!
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