Today we honor our veterans, which in all actuality is something that we should be doing each and every day. The sacrifices that veterans make for our country is immeasurable, and while one day of national recognition is certainly not enough thanks, it is encouraging nonetheless to see businesses and communities acknowledging the hard work of our local veterans. Not only is it Veteran’s Day, the entire month of November is Military Family Month. We encourage you to take time today and this entire month to give thanks to the thousands and thousands of veterans that make your safety possible.

You may be wondering how you can help our nations’ veterans. We came across an excellent article on CNN recently, with tips on how to help a veteran. Here are a few simple ways that you can help:

  1. Buy veteran-friendly holiday cards: With the holidays upon us, we know you have plenty of holiday cards to send to your loved ones. This year, why not purchase your holiday cards from Puppies Behind Bars. Puppies Behind Bars is a program in which prisoners train companion dogs for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. These amazing canines are featured in holiday cards and 2014 calendars, with proceeds from the sales going to Puppies Behind Bars. For more information, visit Puppies Behind Bars.
  2. Donate your frequent flier miles: Stock-piling your frequent flier miles? How about donating a few to help bring family members to the bedside of injured service members. The Hero Miles Program has provided more than 40,000 tickets to wounded, injured and ill service members and their families. This holiday season, help a veteran and his or her family reunite.
  3. Send a care package or letter: We all love receiving mail and packages, and thanks to the efforts of Operation Gratitude, 1 million individually addressed care packages have been sent to the military community…that’s 1 million lives made a little brighter. Operation Gratitude’s Letter Writing Campaign encourages people to write handwritten letters of gratitude to veterans. Don’t have a lot of time or money to donate? A simple, handwritten letter of thanks goes a long way.
  4. Volunteer : The opportunities for volunteering to help a veteran are endless. A quick Google search yields numerous options for how to lend a helping hand. Or simply contact your local American Legion chapter and ask how you can help.
  5. Say thank-you: Supporting our veterans can be as simple as saying “thank you”. It may seem like a no-brainer, but saying “thank you” to a veteran or someone in military uniform can go a long way in making their day.

For veterans, enjoy your day by taking advantage of Veteran’s Day discounts. Military.com compiled a round-up of free or reduced goods and services offered nationally to service members, veterans and their family-members. For a full list, visit the American Legion site. And don’t forget to check in with your favorite locals businesses, offering a variety of veterans discounts today as well.

Happy Veterans Day everyone!