Monday Madness: Veterans Day

Today marks a very special day on the American calendar. It's Veterans Day! This is one of the most important holidays Americans celebrate. Veterans Day often gets passed over because it falls between Halloween and Thanksgiving and we don't get a day off from work, but it's time we start paying more attention to it! I found a really cool history of Veterans Day here. In short, Veterans Day was created to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

What does our military personnel mean to us and to our country? It means that my husband and I don't have to go out and fight wars to protect our nation and its beliefs. I am forever thankful to our veterans because they and their families make sacrifices for me - someone they don't even know. These men and women put themselves in dangerous situations and give up a "normal" life with their own families. They forego the comforts of home for months and months at a time! They help keep our country free. Under the laws of the United States I am free to vote, drive a car, hold a job, wear what I choose... women in some other countries don't even have these liberties! The members of our military help to ensure that I will still have those freedoms for years and years to come.

There are many charities that you can get involved in. Operation Homefront assists military families during difficult financial times by providing food assistance, auto and home repair, vision care, travel and transportation, moving assistance, essential home items, and financial assistance. This charity also hosts a gala each year that recognizes an extraordinary military child and hosts multiple Homefront Celebrations each year to show appreciation to military spouses. Operation Homefront has established Operation Homefront Village to help wounded warriors and Hearts of Valor to support caregivers of wounded warriors. Learn about Operation Homefront. Help support our Veterans families while they support our country!

Another charity worth checking out is The Soldiers Project. I am a big fan of this one because I am a huge advocate of mental health awareness and treatment. The Soldiers Project is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing free, unlimited, confidential, psychological services to military personnel who have served during the Iraq/Afghanistan conflicts, as well as to their loved ones. Returning home from being in combat in a country at war presents difficult challenges for the individual as well as their support system. Service members, wives, husbands, children, parents and other loved ones are all affected by the separation that is part of serving in the military. The transition of “coming home” brings additional challenges. Many will have suffered psychological injuries no less serious than visible scars of war. Therapy offers a safe place in which to talk and share hopes and fears, the excitement and disappointments and even disturbing changes. Through The Soldiers Project soldiers are  paired with mental health practitioners who understand the far-reaching consequences of war-related experiences. Learn about The Soldiers Project. Scars aren't always visible.

The Red Cross has recently kicked of their Holiday Mail for Heroes program. Each year The Red Cross collects cards between October and early December and then distributes them at military installations, veterans hospitals, and in other locations. Click the link above to get the full guidelines. This can be a very simple and inexpensive way to contribute. Grab a few boxes of cards from your local dollar store, sign the cards or write a short message, but them in a flat rate box (the cost should be around $3 to $4) and mail them to: Holiday Mail for Heroes P.O. Box 5456 Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456. The deadline is December 6!

Make time to take a quiet moment today and think about what our service men and woman mean to you. Say a little prayer; give a shout out on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram (#ACuteVeteran). Let's see what we can start!

Thank you to a very special veteran:

Sargeant Jay H. Angle, United States Air Force (1975-1980)

AKA my dad! (center)