Veterans Day-Just Another Day ?

Veterans Day is upon us once again and to many people it is just another day. Why bother honoring soldiers? Although most people would never dream of saying these words aloud, their actions, or rather lack of, scream these words from the rooftops. For the record, I am not a veteran, I never served in the military, I have no family in the military except my father who was in the Royal Navy in WWII. What actions or discussions with your family will you do on Veterans Day?  Will you take a minute of silence in remembrance of those who died protecting our freedom? 

How about the millions of troops in harms way every second of the day in places we wouldn't want to even visit? Take some time to think of the vets in hospitals who are still fighting their battles from long ago service, and WWII vets who are becoming scarcer every day. What can we do to attempt to honor these people who we have never met and probably never will, to say thank you for sacrificing their time and sometimes their lives? I hope you are still reading because I have a few suggestions to make THIS Veterans Day a little different-read on.

First, if you have children, explain to them what this day means and why it is important, and what part our vets played in history and in todays events. Take a stroll through a military cemetery-actually see the resting places of young people who never made it out of their teens. Take in a flag raising ceremony at a local VFW, American Legion, and see the look on the faces of a vet as that flag rises. Walk up to a vet and say thanks-no big thing but to many this never happened and might never occur. If nothing else, say a quiet prayer for some lonely soldier manning a post who is scared and cold.

Another option that is a easy three minute task is a project that the Lions Club is working on with the American Legion Post 211. Take a Christmas card out, address it to "Dear Service Member" and write out a short note of thanks and encouragement to help them get through the Christmas season away from their loved ones. A paragraph is great-more is even greater-but not necessary. Drop the card off at Taylor Rental or Avon Eyedesign in Avon or at the American Legion in Avon Lake, no envelope needed. Thats it, one card, one soldier, one thought. Simple, easy and painless, but to someone who might be on the other side of the world from home-it is a lifeline. Don't believe me?  Take a look at this link attached http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9kkj2X6nkk. The cards are picked up from the dropoff points, shipped to a clearinghouse where they are scanned for safety, and shipped to military bases and hospitals worldwide. I hope you will consider my suggestions for making this Veterans Day 2012 stand out from the previous ones. Remember Veterans Day after 9/11? Why can't we get that feeling of patriotism without losing 3000+ civilians?

I hope you will consider my suggestions, take the time-you won't regret it!