I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014 to support Operation Enduring Freedom. Kandahar in November was hot, days moved slow, and I missed home. One day, a fellow soldier walked in with packages that included a white box that had colorful drawings. The sender’s information was foreign to me, but my last name was written on the box with bold lettering that said, “Thank you for your service.”
Deployment mail is one thing that will always cheer you up. As I opened the box, I saw thank you cards, drawings, cookies and other baked goods carefully wrapped with Americana prints and colors. I read the letters thanking me for my sacrifice and courage. It was then that I realized how being deployed during meaningful calendar dates such as Veterans Day gives military deployments a whole new meaning and nostalgia.
Someone who I had never met took the time and effort to create a thoughtful care package. It was humbling and touching to feel support from a complete stranger from miles away. This forever changed me.
Years have gone by since my last deployment, but after marrying a service member and becoming a mother, it is important to me to pass on selfless acts that can brighten a veteran’s day.
From a young age my children have visited museums, memorials, volunteered and honored the military. They are still young and have more to learn but showing them to care for veterans and our military community has been a highlight of my life out of uniform and as a military spouse. As Nov. 11 approaches, here are nine ways you can honor Veterans Day with your children:
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Write a handwritten note to a veteran;
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Volunteer with organizations that support veterans;
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Visit a local VA center or VFW;
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Make a homecooked meal for a local unit or squadron;
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Fly an American flag at home;
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Support veteran-owned businesses;
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Plan a trip to a veterans museum or war memorial;
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Participate in the national two minutes of silence;
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Attend a Veterans Day parade;
Anyone of these ideas offer a gateway to teach kids about the men and women who protect our great nation, while inspiring feelings of patriotism. What makes this day truly special in my opinion is the shared love for our country and how it feels to learn about the sacrifice others make for our freedom.
Once the volunteering is over, once the parade crowds leave and once the American flag slowly comes down as the sounds of retreat echo through base, a sense of appreciation and elation will fill your heart. You will know that on this day you have done something for yourself, your children and the community around you. Then the hope becomes that the younger generation will be moved to pass on this same reverence for those who choose to serve.
