In honor of Memorial Day, I thought I'd post some ideas on how to thank the troops who are serving our country and their families. Everyone has differing opinions regarding specific military actions, but the fact of the matter is that men and women are making great sacrifices to ensure our freedoms. Here are some simple things you can do to reach out to our troops and their families right now to let them know their sacrifice matters.
* Send a Message From Home: Through Operation Dear Abby, you can send an electronic message to our men and women in the military. Just use the link below and follow the instructions: here. Please note: Not all members of the service will have ready access to e-mail.
* Send Phone Cards to Military Families: Military families often experience financial stress, as well as the obvious personal stress, while their loved ones are away. That makes a little thing like a phone card a very meaningful gift. Even in cases when they're not able to call their loved ones overseas, phone cards will enable them to keep in touch with long-distance family members here at home.
* Reach Out to Families: Reach out to military families in your area with offers of support. (If you'd like to help a family but don't know where to turn, contact your local Red Cross for suggestions.) Military families might have needs for help with child care, meals, home repairs, yard work, etc. Or they might just need someone to listen.
* Care Packages for Troops: If you'd like to send a care package to support the troops, contact your local Red Cross for a list of suggested items, as well as restrictions on package sizes, wrapping, etc.
* Care Packages for Military Families: Show support for the families of the military with a care package, too! Include practical things like grocery items and cleaning supplies, as well as treats for the kids, gift certificates for local restaurants, family videos, magazines, stationery, stamps and favorite treats for the at-home parent or guardian. (A great team project for schools, churches and scout troops.)
* Volunteer: Honor veterans by volunteering at a VA hospital in your area. Contact them to see how you can help. (Visit their Red Cross on their web site. You can also make a financial donation on their web site.
(Note: I acutely found this list on the Hallmark web site. It's just a coincidence that they refer to the Red Cross so often. None the less, AFES does do a good job of bringing comfort to solders and their families.)
* Send a Message From Home: Through Operation Dear Abby, you can send an electronic message to our men and women in the military. Just use the link below and follow the instructions: here. Please note: Not all members of the service will have ready access to e-mail.
* Send Phone Cards to Military Families: Military families often experience financial stress, as well as the obvious personal stress, while their loved ones are away. That makes a little thing like a phone card a very meaningful gift. Even in cases when they're not able to call their loved ones overseas, phone cards will enable them to keep in touch with long-distance family members here at home.
* Reach Out to Families: Reach out to military families in your area with offers of support. (If you'd like to help a family but don't know where to turn, contact your local Red Cross for suggestions.) Military families might have needs for help with child care, meals, home repairs, yard work, etc. Or they might just need someone to listen.
* Care Packages for Troops: If you'd like to send a care package to support the troops, contact your local Red Cross for a list of suggested items, as well as restrictions on package sizes, wrapping, etc.
* Care Packages for Military Families: Show support for the families of the military with a care package, too! Include practical things like grocery items and cleaning supplies, as well as treats for the kids, gift certificates for local restaurants, family videos, magazines, stationery, stamps and favorite treats for the at-home parent or guardian. (A great team project for schools, churches and scout troops.)
* Volunteer: Honor veterans by volunteering at a VA hospital in your area. Contact them to see how you can help. (Visit their Red Cross on their web site. You can also make a financial donation on their web site.
(Note: I acutely found this list on the Hallmark web site. It's just a coincidence that they refer to the Red Cross so often. None the less, AFES does do a good job of bringing comfort to solders and their families.)
posted by Liz at 12:01 AM
2 Comments:
Thanks, Liz, military separations are difficult and almost no one remembers the families back home even during wartime. Speaking from experience ...
wow. I didn't remember what today is really for. Maybe during our memorial day dinner, I will propose doing an idea from your list (or Hallmark's).
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