Thanking veterans for their service is an important act of gratitude which is expressed in various ways and has gone on for thousands of years.
How often have the praises of victorious soldiers been sang, acted out in plays, and written in books? Parades, speeches, and reenactments are just a small part of honoring brave soldiers and important battles.
Veterans day focuses on thanking veterans, both alive and gone, for their service.
I grew up Air Force and married a Marine. I have uncles and grandparents that served our country in times of war and peace.
For me, Veterans Day is special. It is a time that we are able to show gratitude to those who keep our country safe. These men and women put their lives at risk to protect those they love. They serve in a world full of hate, evil, and as my kids would say, “bad guys”.
Veterans are true heroes.
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Why Thanking Veterans for Their Service is Important
First, thanking others for the things they do for us is honoring God and them. In a world of self-absorption (is that a word?) it is important that we look outside of ourselves and appreciate the sacrifices others make for our comfort and in the case of veterans, our safety.
The Apostle Paul often gives thanks for others.
- “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.” Philippians 1:3-4 NKJV
- “do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers” Ephesians 1:6
- “We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.” Colossians 1:
Using Paul as our example and gratitude shown in the Bible, let’s make a habit of thanking the people in our lives that help, encourage, and support us.
Veterans often make a lot of sacrifices for their country. For those who are active in war, they put their lives at risk daily.
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” John 15:13
For those who are not facing dangers every day, their lives are still an example of sacrifice. Many move from location to location to serve their country. As kids, my sister and I were uprooted every two years. I didn’t think much about it, but now as a mom, it looks a bit different. Packing up and moving across the country or to a different one altogether is challenging. To make new friends, embrace new coworkers, and pick up life again in a totally different place takes courage and commitment.
Honoring Veterans Day: What can We Do?
What can we do to honor Veterans Day? Here is a great list of ideas to get you started.
- Show up to parades, welcome home events etc.
- Support our Troops and Operation Gratitude are wonderful programs to provide care packages for deployed troops. Get your kids and/or church involved with this one!
- Fly a flag correctly. Yes, there is flag etiquette!
- Ask a vet about their service. Show interest in them and the service they provide for you.
- Write a letter to encourage our vets through A Million Thanks and Soldiers’ Angels
- Don’t confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day.
- Visit a VA hospital. We caroled at a VA hospital once and it was a lot of fun!
- Teach your kids and their friends the importance of this holiday.
Veterans Day Facts
I’m a facts girl so I thought it important to include some Veterans Day facts, It’s a little easier to celebrate a holiday when you know more about it.
- The first Veterans Day was celebrated on November 11, 1919, marking the one year anniversary of the end of World War 1.
- It was originally called Armistice Day. President Eisenhower changed the name to Veterans Day in 1954.
- November 11th became a national holiday in 1938.
- Great Britain, France, Australia, and Canada also commemorate the veterans of World War 1 and World War 2 on or around November 11.
- Veterans Day is celebrated to honor all veterans who have served in war or peace, living or not.
- Veterans Day and Memorial Day are not the same. Memorial Day is to remember those who lost their lives in service. Veterans Day honors ALL veterans, both here and gone.
Thank You For Serving Our Country Quotes
Often times we want to express gratitude by thanking veterans for their service, but don’t really know what to say. I’ve hunted down a list of “thank you for serving our country quotes” for you to put in cards, on social media, etc.
“Happy Veterans Day to our soldiers, both past and present. We owe you our thanks, but more than that, we owe you our freedom.”
“Veterans Day is a good time to remember that our freedom isn't guaranteed. It is protected by the men and women of our Armed Forces. To those who secure our way of life…thank you!!
“The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.” – Minot J Savage
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.” Winston Churchill
“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” Joseph Campbell
Thanking Veterans for Their Service is An Act of Gratitude
On this Veteran’s Day, let’s remember to honor those who work hard to keep our country safe!
Do you have any veterans in your family? Are you a military family yourself? What would you add to the theme of thanking veterans for their service? I’d love for you to share your thoughts in the comments below!
