November 11th, 2021 is a special day celebrating and honoring the veterans in our community.
The military in Cheyenne, Laramie County, and Wyoming, for that matter, are our neighbors, sisters, brothers, and we need to pause and extend our gratitude to them for their service to not only our country but to us as fellow Americans.
Need some ideas on what to do to celebrate and honor our veterans? Don’t worry. Below are some ways you can participate in the festivities on November 11th for Veterans Days, or any day for that matter.
Attend a community event.
- Rotary clubs, schools, and other local organizations often invite veterans to speak at events on Veterans Day. Take it a step further and take a moment to extend a thank you to those veterans for their service. Please show your thanks by showing up and hearing their stories.
Attend a local parade.
- From Washington D.C. to Washington State, many communities hold local Veterans Day parades. The parades typically include military members from the community or local veterans groups. Celebrate by attending a parade and educating your family and friends on the importance of our service men and women, past and present.
Donate to a veteran’s fund, or non-profit focused on veterans.
- Several organizations are doing great things for military members and their families. Donating financially to their aid through organizations like the Air Force Aid Society, Fisher House, and Naval Special Warfare Foundation are great ways to show your thanks to the military community. There are a variety of organizations you can provide financial support to or volunteer with, to honor and celebrate veterans. If you need help finding one, let us know!
Go lay wreaths at a military cemetery.
- If your community has a cemetery, ask if you can lay small flags or wreaths on the graves of veterans. This is done at larger national cemeteries around the country and a nice way to show your appreciation.
Offer a military discount or offer a token of appreciation.
- If you are a local business owner, consider offering a military discount on Veterans Day or offering some kind of token of your appreciation.
Organize a care-package packing party.
- Gather your family and friends and create care packages for active-duty military members or veterans in your community. The VA is in Cheyenne, so there are easy ways to get care packages to folks. The Support, Our Troops organization, has excellent guidelines for what you can and cannot send to military members and will facilitate mailing care packages for you if you plan to send them to the deployed.
Say, ‘thank you for your service.’
- Stopping a service member and just letting them know you are thankful for their service is always appreciated. If you have a friend or family member who is a veteran, a card can go miles!
Submit a story to A Place for Mom’s “Wall of Honor.”
- A Place for Mom is proud to share the stories of national heroes on our Wall of Honor. Submit your own story or the story of a loved one, or spend some time reading about the selfless sacrifice of America’s veterans. There are other memorial types of efforts done throughout the country, and Cheyenne has a variety of dedication opportunities if you consult the VA Medical Center.
Visit a VA hospital.
- Find a nearby VA hospital and ask them if you can come to visit. Say hello to veterans finding their way after combat or ask if they accept any donations and bring what they need. Typically they will have special events and programming on Veteran’s Day, so you can also request to volunteer and support their festivities too.
Wear a red poppy.
- The American Legion Auxiliary gives out red paper poppies across the Nation on Veterans Day. The poppies are handmade by veterans as part of therapeutic rehabilitation, and donations for the flower go to assist disabled veterans.
If you are a business, you can also incorporate these points of gratitude into your business. Collect donations from customers, sell certain merchandise that supports veteran organizations, and share veterans’ stories with customers and clients!
Ultimately, Veteran’s Day is a way for us to say “thank you” to so many who have made our community and Nation better and safe for us to live, work and raise families. We are so grateful at RE/MAX Capitol Properties for our veterans! Thank you!!!
