Veterans Day 2013

Remember, thank and support our Veterans (both past and present) today and every day for their sacrifices and service to our country. "Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure." - President Abraham Lincoln.

By U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Dennis Cantrell [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Veteran's Day - Remember Our Veterans and Active Duty Military Members

Please remember today and every day, all of the sacrifices that our Veterans and current members of our Armed Forces make for all of us. Show your appreciation for their time, dedication and loyalty to our country.

• Thank a Veteran for his or her service. Offer to pay for their meal if you meet one in a restaurant.
• Send a letter of thanks and, or, a care package to an Armed Forces member that is currently serving in Afghanistan or elsewhere on deployment.
• Don’t forget the spouse and family that are left at home, holding down the fort: Current members of the Military may be in your own families or communities. Offer to help the spouse and family by helping carpool their children to school, making a trip to the grocery store or calling to say hello.

If you don’t know of any Veterans or a Military Member who is currently serving, consider donating time or money to a Veterans organization. Here is a list of a few.

• If you live in or near Los Angeles: Volunteer drivers needed for The Disabled American Veterans (DAV). The DAV is a Non-Profit Organization serving California Veterans. They need dedicated volunteer drivers to transport Veterans to the West Los Angeles V.A. Hospital for medical appointments.  Vehicle, Insurance, Lunch and Gas is  provided. For more information please contact Blas Barragán at: (310) 478-3711 Ext. 49062 or at (310) 268-3344

Other groups that need monetary donations and/or volunteers:

• Fisher House
• The Wounded Warrior Project
• Team Rubicon
• The Purple Heart Service Foundation
• If you don’t live in Los Angeles but near another VA Hospital or clinic you can contact them to see if they need volunteers. 

Veteran's Day - Honor our Veterans

Thinking of and helping others and getting outside of ourselves is one way to make our world a better place while increasing our sense of well being and level of happiness. What better day to start doing this than on Veteran’s Day. Please remember the sacrifices of our current and former members of our Armed Forces. 

• Thank a Veteran for his or her service to show your gratitude for their service to our nation.
• Send a letter of thanks and, or, a care package to an Armed Forces member that is currently serving in a war zone in Afghanistan or Iraq.
• Look for the currently deployed Service Member in your own family and community.  Offer to help their family at home by any of the following: Call and check in on them to say hello, offer to pick up items for them on your next trip to the grocery store, offer your time to babysit their children so the spouse at home can run errands, treat their kids to an afternoon at the movies, bring the family a casserole dish or home-made cookies next time you bake.

“Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure”. (This quote has been attributed to Abraham Lincoln). Without a safe and secure nation, we would have nothing else.