November - Honoring our Veterans and their families

Alexr al'Petros

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We acknowledge and appreciate our veterans of the past and present for their noble and brave service to our nations, we offer gratitude for their sacrifice and for the security and protection of our freedoms. In honor of their commitment to liberty and country, many countries honor veterans on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, with some calling it Armistice Day, others Remembrance Day. It all started after World War I. In the US, it began in 1921 when an unknown World War I American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This site, on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and the city of Washington, D.C., became the focal point of reverence for America’s veterans. Earlier, similar ceremonies had occurred in England and France, where an unknown soldier was buried in each nation’s highest place of honor (in England, Westminster Abbey; in France, the Arc de Triomphe). These memorial gestures all took place on November 11, giving universal recognition to the celebrated ending of World War I fighting at 11 a.m., November 11, 1918 (the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The day became known as “Armistice Day” and later "Veteran's Day" in the U.S.

Each November, the military community also observes National Veterans and Military Families Month to celebrate how special military families are, to recognize all the ways that military families support their service members, and also acknowledge the tremendous sacrifices our military families make. They contend with separation from their families and must make adjustments to new living situations and communities. Military Families embody strength, resilience, and courage. Care of military families and children sustains our military services, and strengthens the health, security, and safety of our nation's families and communities.

At TVN, we passionately support our veterans and invite the members of our community to donate their time and make contributions to local veteran service organizations and to their veterans and military families.

Looking for ways to honor your veterans and military families? Each week we will share various ways you can honor your veterans and military families.

In the meantime, here's a sig you can use this month and keep ....

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And please attend our SOA watch parties schedule for 18 Nov (Friday) 5pm MDT and 27 Nov (Sunday) 1pm MDT. We will be screening

1. 7 Days in Entebbe (about the Isreali hostage rescue starring our very own Rosamund Pike - Moriaine)
2. Dunkirk (British movie about the rescue of allied forces)

Or suggest a movie, we'd love to hear from you!!
 

Polegnyn Nemeara

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There's a gentleman at my church who wears a Vietnam ball cap after Mass. I always see him come through the coffee and donut line since my daughter has started helping serve in that ministry afterward. I've been meaning to thank him for his service, but my shyness has bested me since we started. Kept telling myself I was going to do it before Veteran's Day, not only because things like this shouldn't be focused around Veteran's Day but also because of this thread. Anyway, my daughter wasn't supposed to serve this weekend, but my kiddos wanted a donut regardless and, sure enough, spotted him and his wife in line. Pulled up my big-girl pants, walked over, and said, "I've been building my courage over the last several weeks to thank you for your service." He just smiled and said, "You're welcome!"

Does anyone else have stories to share in order to help inspire us shy ones?
 

Alexr al'Petros

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I'm a little behind on this post, let's get this started!!

As the first full week of November, we want to share ways you can honor your veterans and military families. This week is also when Veteran's Day occurs. For many veterans, it can be a difficult week of reflecting on friends they have lost, injuries they may have suffered, or traumatic experiences earned. Tread kindly.
  • Thank an Active-Duty Member, Veteran, Military Spouse, or Military Child for their service. (Your veteran deeply appreciates it even if they may also be a little uncomfortable to receive it).
  • Visit war memorials with your family to teach your children the value of service and reflect on the history supporting your family.
  • Fly the U.S. Flag or your country's Flag in honor of Veterans and their families.
  • See someone in uniform or even a veteran? Thank them for their service or surprise them with a free coffee, dessert or drink if they are in line behind you.
Thanks @Polegnyn Nemeara for sharing your experience, it is really important. As a veteran, I will admit that I am often surprised and a bit embarrassed when my service is recognized. I suspect many of us would feel the same way. But give the challenges (and sometimes trauma) associated with service, those simple kind words can often be hugely impactful in a positive way to your veteran. As importantly, it is a way of actualizing your own values, so don't be shy, express your gratitude.

Does anyone else have any other experiences around expressing gratitude to a veteran?
 

Dovienya el'Korim

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As a veteran, I will admit that I am often surprised and a bit embarrassed when my service is recognized.
This is also how I feel a lot of the time, especially with how difficult it is to remember that part of my life. Usually a simple, "Thank you for your service" and then leaving it at that is nice. Today, I was handed a couple of cards made by the class for myself and my husband when I dropped my son off at school. That personal touch was really nice, especially since I could take it home and have my reflections in private.

I don't know, that's just me. There seem to be plenty of other veterans who could talk your ear off with their stories :)
 

Alexr al'Petros

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Anni put us slightly behind schedule, but I was so proud of our TVN community taking the time during the revelry and merry making to have a respectful / dignified veteran and military family recognition ceremony at Anni. Mother oversaw the ceremony as our TVN community veterans gathered on stage to be honored by the Anni attendees. As a veteran (and as @Dovienya el'Korim Sedai notes above) sometimes this public recognition is difficult for us. (Most of us find our joy in the service; not the recognition.) Yet these ceremonies, brief "thank you's" and small considerations have an immense impact on our veterans and military families; often helping the healing process for the trauma that service may have caused.

2. Although Veteran's Day has passed, your veterans and their families are continuing to serve. Here's a few thoughtful ideas to consider in support of that service and them.
  • Create a Spouse or Service Member Care Package with items that would help either ease stress during a deployment. Create a spouse care package for them to enjoy and help reduce stress during training, deployment, and PCS moves and relocations.
  • Contact your nearest military base Morale, Welfare, And Recreation (MWR) office to see what events or activities might be planned on-post honoring families including special events, contests, or discounts for local businesses or attractions. Sometimes just showing up for an event or ceremony creates a stronger bond in the community.
  • Contact your nearest chapter of the Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society, Army Emergency Relief, or Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, to volunteer or participate in scheduled events to support their efforts. The winter months are prime fundraising and support time for these societies as they gear up to assist military families over the holiday season. The annual Toys For Tots drives and similar efforts held by these agencies are always in need of volunteer help.
 

Alexr al'Petros

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3. It's Thanksgiving week when we reflect on our blessings, spend time with our families and perhaps eat too much. Here are some ideas on what you can do for your veterans and military families.
  • Donate a Thanksgiving gift to junior-enlisted members and their families through the USO-Metro’s Turkeys for Troops!
  • Volunteer at a local chapter of a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) such as the Red Cross, AmVets, Disabled American Veterans (DAV), American Legion, etc.
  • Donate professional services to military communities. Are you a professional counselor, psychologist, social worker, therapist, child care professional, or community organizer? Private and chartered organizations serving military families may need your expertise to make an impact in military communities whether active duty, Guard, Reserve, retirees, etc.
Each year, we invite a veteran or military member to join our family for Thanksgiving dinner. It's not that difficult to find someone that doesn't really have a celebration to attend. A simple call to the local base or a visit to a Vet home and you can find someone as well.
 
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Thank you all as well for the very respectful recognition for the veterans and current servicemembers at Anni. I am also like Dovi in that I don't always like too much attention in public. A simple thank you is good for me if someone wants to say something. Otherwise, it can be a little embarrassing when other people start to take notice and a crowd builds up. When trying to get home from an Army Reserve weekend at the beginning of the month a man came up to me at the gas pump and proceeded to tell me his entire life story and all about his dad who served. I had to keep stopping him so that I could get on my way home to spend time with Dovi and Son.

Another thing some of you could do, if you wanted, is look up local Reserve centers or National Guard / Coast Guard locations. A really nice gentleman came to our building a few years ago and dropped off a really sweet letter to thank us along with some little gifts from a local VFW hall. We made copies of the letter and shared it around with other units, hung it on the wall, etc...
 

Alexr al'Petros

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@Vorusean el'Korim thank you for sharing that story, it really rekindled memories for me of the many simple and kind things done for my Marines and I when I was deployed. Despite being in remote and austere locations, we always had these wonderful cards from children, parents, supporters posted around the Camp Fallujah. The little simple gestures were immeasurable in their positive impact.

4. As we close out this month of Honoring Veterans and military families here are other simple things you can do.
  • Adopt-a-Soldier for the Holidays, here's the link to a fantastic and easy program.
  • Adopt a military family for the holidays by sponsoring a Food Basket or Toys for junior enlisted military families through the ASYMCA’s Operation Holiday Joy.
  • Offer a military neighbor a bit of respite with volunteer childcare to get errands accomplished or to enjoy a few hours to recharge.
  • Visit a veteran receiving care in a VA hospital or nursing home, this is especially appreciated during the holidays when we can all feel a bit lonely. Each year, myself and my Combat Veteran's Motorcycle Association chapter, visit our local veteran's home. Many of the residents no longer have families and their loneliness is palpable. Stop in, share a story, and a little holiday season compassion.
And thank you for being a "Servant of All" by honoring our Veterans and Military Families this month.
 
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