There are many options available for seniors who want to honor veterans and their service to our country. Some of the best include offering your thanks when meeting a veteran and attending celebrations that support our servicemen and women. For more ideas on how to get started, here are seven ways to show respect to veterans on Veteran's Day, other special events and during daily life. Some you can do right in the assisted living community at Broadmoor Court.
Let veterans know you remembered the occasion without saying a word by dressing in red, white and blue combinations of clothing. This can be especially fun and visually impactive during parades and events when you coordinate with friends or family and all wear jewelry, pins or hats with patriotic designs.
Add a flag to the door of your senior living apartment or create a themed window display that shows off your national pride. If you enjoy craft projects, consider building wreaths or decorations, such as these washi tape flags or star suncatchers, which you can use personally or give as gifts to your neighbors.
Music is a wonderful way to celebrate our veterans and our nation, and hosting a sing-along in one of the common rooms doesn't have to be complicated or fancy to be enjoyable for everyone involved. Many of the most well-known and beloved patriotic songs are easy to follow in a group. However, printing out a list of your prepared songs and their lyrics to pass around beforehand can help ensure that everyone can join in.
A postcard or greeting card expressing your thanks for a veteran's service can be a simple but effective way to convey your feelings. In addition to sending a note to individuals you personally know, you can also consider participating in national volunteer groups, such as Operation Gratitude, which accepts letters and handmade goods, including paracord bracelets, drawstring bags and knitted hats.
Many veterans have to travel to reach the nearest VA hospital or clinic, which can make it hard for their friends and family to assist them on a daily basis. The Veterans Health Administration website has contact information for clinics in the Colorado Springs area so you can call to check their donation policies and get a list of what types of items they need the most. Common donations include reading materials, toothbrushes, soaps, socks or t-shirts.
Take the time to learn about issues surrounding our veterans and how you can get involved in helping to resolve them, then help spread the word among your community, family and friends. Talk with veterans and ask them about why they chose to enlist, what kinds of duties they usually performed and what some of their favorite memories entail. If veterans don't feel like talking about themselves or their lives, be respectful and refrain from prying. However when they do, show them you care by listening and paying attention.
Passing on a strong sense of gratitude and pride in our nation to the next generation is one of the sincerest forms of thanks that can be given for the efforts and sacrifices that others have offered for our freedom and way of life. Veterans Day parades are a great chance for you to invite your family out and teach the younger members why these celebrations are important. As these experiences become memories, they can help spark a personal interest in the next generation to participate in additional events and volunteer activities in the future.
