Thank A Veteran. Any Day.

Today is (was) Veteran's Day.

And it's so very important and every year I write something on Facebook and I mean what I write and today - I just - I didn't feel like anything I was going to say would be enough.

Because we don't say thank you to our veterans as often as we should.

And we don't listen to them and hear them as often as we should.

And it's hard.

Look. I know y'all have so much happening. I know that in today's world it is impossible to do everything for everyone.

But without the individuals who serve in our armed forces we would not be the country we are today. We would not be living the lives we do today.

And so - today is just one day - but saying thank you more often than that would be such a simple thing to do.

Know a veteran who has lived through combat? Reach out. See how they're doing. See what they might need. Just offering an ear, some time together - that's all it takes to show you care.

Have a USO office nearby? Make a donation to support the work they do. Ask how you can best help support them this holiday season. One year the moms' community I was a part of contacted them and brought over dozens of cookies and treats from our holiday cookie swap event. It was extremely appreciated. Most USO centers have in-kind wish lists on their websites - making it really easy to address their specific needs.

Join Volunteers of America. You can make a monetary donation to Volunteers of America to help support their efforts in supporting our veterans. Or you can look into volunteering with the organization.

Consider supporting Canine Companions for Independence. CCI is a non-profit organization that has been providing trained assistance dogs to people with disabilities FREE OF CHARGE since 1975. Any help you can give would be wonderful and appreciated.

Send a donation in to the Transgender American Veterans Association. 

Want to find an even simpler way to help? My guess is you must have at least ONE old cell phone laying around your house. Pack it up and send it off to Cell Phones for Soldiers. They accept flip-phones, smartphones, broken and cracked cell phones - whatever you have. Don't want to figure out the steps it takes to mail one in? (It's pretty simple - just click donate a phone - but I understand, you might just not want to deal with the details - I get that way, myself.) Find a drop-off location near you.

Lastly, and yes, again ... as it is worth repeating ... talk to the veterans in your life. Say thank you.

And if you are a United States Veteran of our Armed Forces in need of support at any time, please reach out. Contact the Veteran's Crisis Line in any of these three ways:

Call:
1-800-273-8255 and press 1

Chat online:
Confidential Veterans Chat

Text:
Text 838255 to receive confidential support 24/7/365

Additional resources for veterans.

And also?

Thank you.

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