Saturday, November 10, 2012

Ideas for Veteran's Day: Guest Post


I recently had one of my Blog follower's ask about writing a guest post leading up to Veteran's Day. I meant to post it yesterday but time got away from me . Courtney wrote up a nice little piece about Veteran's Day as well as some ideas you can do to help say Thank You . I hope everyone remembers that on Sunday November 11th it's a time to remember those who make our everyday freedoms possible.

 

Veterans Day 2012
Did you remember that Veterans Day is coming up on the 11th?  Do you have plans to celebrate the day?  So many people have Veterans Day off but do nothing to celebrate because they don’t understand the significance or importance of the day!  Make this year different by learning about Veterans Day and participating in fun, patriotic activities.

The basis of Veterans Day goes back to November 11th, 1918.  On this day, at 11am, the United States signed a peace armistice with Germany that signified the end of World War I.  In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson called the day “Armistice Day” and declared it a holiday.  In 1938, Congress officially ratified it as a federal holiday.  Years later in 1954, Congress changed the name to “Veterans Day” to include the celebration of not just WWI vets, but also those who served in World War II and the Korean War.  Today we celebrate all veterans who have ever served in the US Armed Forces and we spend this day honoring them and the sacrifices the make for our freedom.  This day is often confused with Memorial Day, but is quite different, as Veterans Day is a day of celebration and Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those that died in the service of their country.

Celebrating the Patriotic Way
There are so many fun activities that you can participate in that will help you have a great Veterans Day this year.  Here are a few ideas that you can do with family and friends:
1.       Patriotic Arts and Crafts – Spending time with your kids making patriotic arts and crafts is a good way to spend a few hours.  Paper flags, patriotic banners, and red, white, and blue treats are all fun ideas that your family will love!  Patriotic rice crispy treats are a favorite.
2.       Parades – Many cities and towns host parades to honor the local community members who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces.  Parades are usually free and can be a blast for your whole family.  This is also a great way for you to meet your community members who have served and give thanks to them for their efforts.
3.       Give Service – There are many VA hospitals or homeless shelters that are in need of volunteers to visit with patients, help with food service, or do other tasks.  Homeless shelters often work with veterans who have no homes and who struggle with PTSD and other difficulties.  There is a significant amount of opportunity to participate in these programs and help those in need.

Make sure that you get involved in the festivities of Veterans Day this year and that you remember the history behind the holiday.  Also keep in mind that because Veterans Day falls on a Sunday this year, it will be observed on Monday, November 12th.

Courtney writes about VA news for MilitaryVALoan.com, a resource for veterans to find the lowest http://www.militaryvaloan.com/”>VA home loan rates
and save money on their VA mortgages.

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