Ways To Honor Veterans Beyond Veterans Day

The men and women who don a uniform, sign their names on a dotted line and willingly decide to serve our country are a courageous breed. And Veterans Day is the day that we all pause and reflect upon the heroism of those who have served our country. We take the time to thank the veterans in our lives, to recognize their sacrifices and show our appreciation for their service.

There are other ways, however, that we can honor and help our veterans beyond just Veterans Day. In an interview with CNN, veterans and their families opened up about different ways people can show their appreciation and support.

1. Don’t stigmatize. Paul Rieckhoff, executive director of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, says that veterans are often lumped into two categories, seen as either “the crying wounded or the guy who jumps the White House fence to get to the President.” Although open conversation on a national level has led to a greater understand of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), there is still a stigma attached to the disorder, and it’s important to remember that not every veteran has PTSD, and not every veteran with PTSD is violent.

Reickhoff added, “Don’t treat us like victims. We’re not broken. We’ve been through a lot, but we’re rising out of it.”

2. Hire a veteran. It’s often a struggle for a former service member to find employment after leaving the military. A shocking 77 percent of veterans have dealt with the hurdles of unemployment, and more than 25 percent have been searching for a job for over a year. Fortunately, the situation is improving, but the unemployment rate for veterans is still 1.2 percent higher than for the general population, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

There are even financial incentives for companies who hire veterans — the Returning Heroes Tax Credit. Plus, due to the leadership and teamwork skills military members learn, studies show that hiring a veteran is just good business.

3. Remember the families of veterans, too. Multiple deployments of a family member can cause trauma for those left at home, as well. And those who have lost a loved one in service need support. Bill Koch, who lost a son serving in Afghanistan in 2008, and whose daughter committed suicide two years later, an act which her parents believe was tied to the death of their son, gave advice on how to speak to the family of a lost service member, whether in combat or through suicide.

“Don’t be afraid to approach us. This heartache I have — it makes other people uncomfortable. It hits them in a place that scares them. It can hurt so much more when we feel like we’re making other people uncomfortable by talking about our kids. Don’t push military family members away because you’re afraid you’ll say the wrong thing. Just asking us means you care, and that means everything.”

4. Volunteer. There are plenty of programs that can help you get involved in making a difference to a veteran and his or her family. But because a great number of nonprofit groups and organizations have formed over the past decade, it can be more difficult to find a good group. Terri Tanielian has dedicated her career to veterans issues, and recommends Welcome Back Veterans. Charity Watch, a site that investigates programs and gives ratings based on certain criteria, has a list of programs for veterans, as well.

So take the time to thank a veteran, to recognize their service and let them know how much they are appreciated…and the rest of the year, show them by continuing to reach out, in whatever way possible.

And for those who have served or are currently serving, here is a list of businesses who would like to show their appreciation for your service on Veterans Day.