Honoring Veterans at Home

Parents are faced with all kinds of complex tasks that go above and beyond providing for the material needs of their family. Giving children an appreciation of values like duty and service can be challenging for even the best-intentioned mother or father. Honoring veterans and active service members can also be a difficult undertaking, especially if the child does not have any immediate family members that they can look to as examples. Parents therefore have to come up with ways of honoring veterans in a manner that children can relate to.

Values for Every Generation

Every generation should have a healthy respect for the decision to serve our country. Understanding the sacrifice that every service member gives is an important part of recognizing the value of the things that these people worked hard to protect. Academic subjects such as history and civics become more immediately relevant to students who have been exposed to these topics through an appreciation of military service. Further, acknowledging the sacrifices made by veterans inspires people to advocate for veterans’ benefits and other support services that aid service members and their families. Parents will play a significant role in the cultivation of the values that inspire all this and much more.

Together as a Family

Attending parades and civic celebrations of patriotic holidays are one way to introduce children to the value of military service and the importance of the choice to serve. Any of these observances are likely to be family-friendly and will certainly offer the opportunity for discussion:

Independence Day parades and firework displays
Family Memorial Day cookouts
Community Memorial Day observances and ceremonies
Veterans Day parades and pageants
Patriot Day civic celebrations and memorials

Though many of these observances are festive in character, emphasizing their serious history can help children empathize with the sacrifice that other people have made. Talking about the ways that entire families contributed to past and current war efforts may allow children to grasp the importance of community sacrifice, too.

If you have family members who are currently serving or served in various military conflicts of the past, make sure that their pictures are displayed in the home. If a picture is not available, creating a special collage or display of images related to the conflict they served in can still provide a helpful reminder of these important moments in history. Connecting with these distant events in a very personal way can help bring home the relevance and significance of military service.

Working Together to Help Others

Hearing stories of ancestors and seeing displays honoring bravery do not always strongly personalize the value of service and sacrifice. Many children respond positively to a hands-on approach to learning these important lessons. Look into volunteer opportunities during the holidays that can be done as a family. Put your effort behind a clothing drive for a local homeless shelter or prepare care packages to send to soldiers on active duty. Visit elderly relatives as a group or participate in service projects organized by your faith community.

There are lots of ways to bring home the values exemplified by veterans and active service members. Teaching your child to recognize and respect these values can bring you together as a family.

Testimonials:

I received my United States MA-1 Bravo Jacket yesterday and I am very pleased with it. Thanks

Charles W
Thank you very much for the two beautiful garments! Both the MA1-Bravo Jacket and the Concealed Carry Soft Shell Vest fit perfectly and are tailored to perfection. They are rugged and warm, exactly what I was looking for.

Ed J.
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Edward A.
Dear Vetcom, Received the MA-1 Bravo Jacket yesterday. Thank you so very much, made a Veteran very happy. Was so hoping to have it on time for him to wear on Veterans Day and you made sure it was here in time. The jacket is beautiful and my husband just loves it. Again, thank you so very much and God bless.

Jessie H.

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More News & Stories:

Train a Service Dog to Help a Veteran

If you are looking for different ways that you can help a veteran of the United States armed forces, you could consider training a service dog. Many U.S. veterans become disabled as a result of their time in active duty. Depending upon the nature of their disabilities, assistance from service dogs may be beneficial.

United States Armed Forces Need to Share Their Story Using Commemorative Items

If you are a veteran of any branch of the United States armed forces, you have a rich story to tell. One thing you could consider doing is to put your memories together and create a display or presentation that you can give to a local community organization, such as a municipal library, or school.

Invite a Veteran to School

If you are a middle or high school history teacher and your curriculum focuses on one of the wars from the past half century, you might want to consider inviting a local veteran of that war to your class. Giving your students the ability to hear more detail about the war experience directly from someone who was there is one of the best ways to truly get some concepts across to them.

Summer Days to Remember Vets

The long, warm days of summer always seem to herald memories of simpler times and joys. From state fairs to ice cream truck treats and more, we are blessed with a plethora of opportunities every summer. This year, while taking advantage of the fun that these months can bring to you, you can also honor or thank a vet for contributing to your ability to do just that.

Honor a Vet on These Special Spring Days

Veteran’s Day in November is a wonderful time to step back and focus on honoring our nation’s military veterans. However, you do not need to wait until November to do this. There are many special days throughout every month of the year that can give you opportunities to do something special for a vet.

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