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7
SIMPLE WAYS KIDS CAN
THANK A VETERAN ON
VETERANS DAY
By Lauren Tamm
re you wanting to thank a veteran but
don’t know where to start? It’s easy to see
that after decades of war, many Americans
want to thank and appreciate veterans for their
service, but they aren’t exactly sure how to do that.
I get it. It can feel overwhelming, especially for
kids to think about that kind of stuff. But I have
to share, thanking a veteran comes in all shapes
and sizes. Often times, it’s the simplest gestures of
kindness and gratitude, which help a veteran feel
appreciated.
For many Americans, Veterans Day often is an
extra day off school for the kids or a long weekend
enjoyed in November, but the meaning of this
holiday runs much deeper. Veterans Day used to be
called Armistice Day because that was the month,
day and hour (November 11, 1918 at 11:00 am) that
World War I ended. It was supposed to be the “war
to end all wars.” Sadly, we know it wasn’t the last
one.
On Veterans Day, we have a unique and special
opportunity to celebrate the service of all U.S.
military veterans and the selfless sacrifices they’ve
made to keep our country safe. This November
11 th , I’d like to challenge all families–parents and
kids alike–to take a small part of your day to serve
veterans in their community through a simple
gesture.
So if you’d like to thank a veteran this Veterans Day,
but feel unsure about where to begin, consider these
simple kid-friendly acts of kindness:
1. SAY ‘THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE.”
Thank a veteran by just saying “Thank you for
serving.” It`s that simple. Many veterans wear a
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special hat or button which would identify them.
You will see veterans at many parades and special
events. That is the simplest way to make a veteran
feel appreciated.
Plus, when a child thanks a veteran it is actually like
a double dose of gratitude, and I will tell you why:
a child learned to thank a veteran from another
adult–whether it be a parent, a teacher or someone
else–another person was integral in that thank you.
All veterans know this. So when your child takes
the time to thank a veteran for their service, it’s
pretty special.