How to Show Your Gratitude to Troops and Veterans

Working in the armed forces can offer a lot, but it does also mean putting yourself at risk, particularly if there is a conflict that your country is involved in during your time of service. It takes a lot of courage to put yourself in that position, and it can be difficult to come to terms with a lot of the harsh realities of war and even the pressures of working in these services. This is why active troops and veterans deserve respect and showing them some gratitude for their service is a good way to do this. If you want to do more to let this community know how much you appreciate what they do, here are some ideas to try.

Supporting Families of Active Troops

When your partner, sibling, parent, or child decides to join the armed forces, it can be both a moment of pride and panic, especially if they are deployed on a dangerous assignment. While the families of active troops are very strong, they still need kindness and support from others to help them get through the worry, and sadly sometimes the tragedy, of their position. Even veterans can find it difficult to adjust when they return home, and this can also be hard for their loved ones to witness. This is why it is important to support the families of those in this line of work, whether that is offering to help out with childcare, hosting a fundraising event, or even just checking in to see if they are all right. 

Donating to Charities

Another great way you can support troops and veterans is by donating to charities that support the armed forces. RedCross.org takes collections for veterans and is a great example of the kind of organization that works to improve the lives of people in this community. You may even find that you would like to volunteer for one of these charities or organize a larger fundraising event to spread the word and get more people involved.

Send Care Packages to Troops

When troops are out on active duty, or even away on training programs, the distance between them and home can be difficult. This is especially true if they are facing dangerous scenarios, so sending them some care packages from home can be a very welcome comfort. If you know someone in the armed forces, this may be something that you do for them already, but consider arranging drives to get others involved in providing this for troops so that they can see how much people appreciate what they do. You can also do this for veterans who might need food packages or other items if they are struggling.

Tell Them How Much You Appreciate Them

All of the above are great options to express your gratitude to troops and veterans, but even something as simple as telling them how much you appreciate what they do can be enough. Hearing someone thank them for their service can mean the world, and this can be a rarer occurrence than you might think. 

If you want to show troops and veterans that you appreciate their work and are grateful for their service, consider doing some or all of the above.