What Is Veterans Day and Why Do We Celebrate It?
Veterans Day was originally “Armistice Day” and took place on November 11th, 1919. This was the first anniversary of the end of World War I. Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day gives tribute to all American veterans (living or have passed). It is a day to give thanks to those veterans who served their country during war or peacetime.
Facts:
Here are some facts about veterans in the United States that History has given…
- 18.2 million living veterans served during at least one war as of 2018.
- 9 percent of veterans are women.
- 7 million veterans served during the Vietnam War.
- 3 million veterans have served in support of the War on Terrorism.
- Of the 16 million Americans who served during World War II, about 325,000 were still alive as of 2020.
- 2 million veterans served during the Korean War.
- As of 2019, the top three states with the highest percentage of Veterans were Virginia, Wyoming, and Alaska
How to Thank Veterans for Their Services
Veterans have done a lot for us so the least we can do to show our appreciation is to thank them. Veterans sacrificed not only in what they did during their time in the military, but also in what they do or don’t have. The typical entry-level positions or 9-5 jobs provide career advances, competitive salaries, along with time to enjoy with their friends and family. Here are some ideas on how you can thank a veteran this year.
Offer Your Time
Time is the best gift that you can give anyone. Although there are many things that you can offer veterans, time is very valued. Think about the skills you bring to the table and how you can use it to benefit others.
Hire a Veteran
After veterans are done serving, they are immediately looking for jobs and would need all the assistance they can get. Supporting military families is just as important as supporting veterans themselves. If you work in any kind of management position, you can help your business improve hiring practices. PsychArmor is a nonprofit organization that teaches you the skills on how to find, hire, and train retain veterans and military spouses.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a great way to help out if you don’t have the resources to give any other way. There is an organization called the Veteran Success Resource Group that can assist you in this area. They describe themselves as, “They bring together hundreds of veterans and family members in one afternoon to meet representatives from all the local government agencies that hire and support veterans, businesses that want to hire vets or include veteran-owned businesses in their supply chain, universities that provide vet services and a multitude of veteran service organizations”
Frequent Flyer Miles
Many people travel for work or pleasure and collect frequent flyer miles. Believe it or not, you can donate any miles that you aren’t using. Through the Hero Miles Program, you can donate your miles to family members who want to be close to their loved ones.
Veteran-Owned Business
November is National Veterans and Military Families Month. This makes it the perfect time to bring business to veteran-owned small businesses. According to the 2018 Annual Business Survey, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/abs.html veteran business owners account for 6.1% of all businesses in the U.S. You can support those businesses by taking your shopping there instead of bigger corporations. You can also support them by adding them to your company’s supply chain. By supporting them, this helps them in many different ways.
Cash Programs
There are countless veterans organizations that could use some extra cash programs that assist current service members who are having financial difficulties and give job counseling to those who are leaving the military. There are many options online, but even asking a veteran for their input on where to go is even better.
Have a Veteran as a Guest Speaker
Appreciating veterans is one thing, but understanding what shaped them and why they are the person they are today is more important. Veterans have many stories, advice, and wisdom to share with those who are willing to listen. They also have a great insight into crisis management, leadership roles, and personal grit.
Best,
Danielle Morrow
Marketing Specialist