Many Ways to Show Gratitude to Veterans

Personal sacrifice and putting the well-being of others before individual comfort and convenience are some of the qualities that distinguish a hero. Anyone who made the decision to serve in the American armed forces has these heroic qualities and many more. Duty, teamwork, a heightened sense of responsibility, and a willingness to do more than necessary are other admirable qualities that veterans share. People who have not had the opportunity to serve can learn a lot from the stories of these real life heroes. There are many ways to show your gratitude for the duty performed by our service members.

Engaging in service motivated by gratitude is an excellent way to exercise character and build a very personal sense of responsibility towards the people in your community. These service projects and other ideas are great individual projects. These ideas can also be easily adapted to groups of people who wish to do work together to show gratitude to veterans.

Hospital Volunteer Service

The hospitals that are supported by the Veterans Administration (VA) are some of the hardest working organizations in the country. Health care services are provided to thousands of veterans in each location every year. If you live near a VA hospital, inquire about volunteer work. Not all hospitals take on volunteers continually throughout the year; there may be a certain time period during which volunteers receive training and orientation. Additionally, most hospitals ask that their volunteers commit to a certain number of hours per week or per month; this helps ensure that there is even coverage of volunteer effort.

Seasonal Service Projects

Civic groups, social clubs, churches, and colleges frequently organize service projects to benefit veterans and current service members around the holidays. The beginning of November or even mid-October is a good time to reach out to these organizations and find out what projects they will be engaged in. Let them know of your interest and then work together with them to make the project a success.

Seasonal service projects include activities such as:

• Homeless Outreach – The homeless population includes a large number of veterans. Helping in a soup kitchen and gathering donations for shelters are two important projects that take place throughout the year though additional help is sought especially during the busy holiday season.
   
• Sending Holiday Cards to Service Members – Community groups frequently take time to personally write cards and letters to soldiers and other service members as the holidays approach. Cards celebrating Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and other winter holidays are more meaningful when they come from the hands of a grateful patriot.
   
• Community Caroling – Singing traditional Christmas songs at hospitals, retirement homes, and community centers is a highlight for many volunteers. Organizing this project requires a little more effort though community chorus groups look for new members to prepare for the holiday season.

There are many different ways to reach out to the veterans in your community. Showing gratitude through focused volunteer work will put you in touch with many like-minded people. You can gain a better understanding of the true nature of sacrifice and service. Working one-on-one with people in so many different settings also lets you personally thank the veterans you meet for their lasting service.

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