Parent Magazine Volusia November 2019 | Page 9

2. PRAY FOR VETERANS Prayer is a powerful thing. You can simply pray together at home for veterans. You can also pray for veterans within your church community or request that it be a part of Sunday sermon. You could also tell a veteran you are praying for him. It is incredibly meaningful and comforting for both veterans and active duty military service members to receive prayers. 3. MAKE A CARE PACKAGE FOR THE TROOPS. Have your children create a card, picture or care package to be sent overseas to a Soldier, Marine, Airman, Sailor or Coast Guardsman actively serving. Visit the sites AnySoldier.com or SoldiersAngels.org to discover how and where to send your special items. Nowadays, care packages are crazy creative and often made around a special theme such as Thanksgiving or fall. Care package inspiration can be found online. 4. DELIVER A HOMEMADE GIFT TO A VETERAN. You can also support veterans in your local area by taking a special homemade craft or goodie to a nearby Veteran Affairs Hospital or Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post to show your appreciation for their service. 5. ATTEND A PARADE. Attend a Veterans Day parade in your local area. To find one near you, search online. Teach your kids to stand and clap for veterans marching past. This is a huge act of gratitude! 6. SPEND TIME WITH A VETERAN. Invite a veteran to your home on Veterans Day and share a meal together. It could be a grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle, brother, sister, or any friend or relative that is a veteran. Or skip the cooking altogether and treat a veteran to dinner at a local restaurant. 7. VOLUNTEER. Talk to your local veterans’ organizations, American Legion or Veterans of Foreign Wars, to see how you can help. Volunteering may be as simple as bringing a warm meal to a home-bound vet that your kids helped make. You could also offer to help with a home maintenance or yard work and allow your kids to pitch in. Finally, if you aren’t able to directly serve a veteran in your area, check out fisherhouse.org, an organization dedicated to helping military families of soldiers in the field. Veterans do appreciate knowing their families are well taken care of when they are far from home. I hope you all find a special and unique way to thank a veteran this week! And remember, if you aren’t able to do something special for veterans this Veterans Day, that’s okay! Veterans appreciate and accept simple acts of kindness and gratitude any day of the year. Lauren Tamm is the author of themilitarywifeandmom.com blog, and is passionate about helping people discover simple tools that minimize stress, create peace and build connection. LOCAL VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS Please contact for opportunities to thank a veteran. Daytona Beach Veterans of Foreign Wars 1590 (VFW) 1013 Veteran’s Court, Daytona Beach (386) 252-5844 Port Orange VFW 3282 5810 S. Williamson Blvd., Port Orange (386) 761-7217 Port Orange Marine Corps League 658 5810 S. Williamson Blvd., Port Orange (386) 275-4311 Port Orange American Legion 119 Howes St, Port Orange (386) 788-6800