We all benefit from the freedoms protected and preserved by those who served in our armed forces. They gave selflessly of their time, knowledge, and strength to serve our country, and now, with Veterans Day approaching, it’s our privilege to serve them in return.
For me, there was no greater gift than witnessing this kind of generosity toward my favorite veteran: my grandfather, Lawrence Shelton. Not only was he an exceptional grandparent, but he was also a well-respected and long-serving veteran of the United States Army.
My siblings and I knew all about his time in the military – the things he saw, the places he went, and the tragedies and triumphs he experienced during World War II. But what we recall most about his life as a veteran is the way he was cared for, honored, and remembered.
In honor of his service and with gratitude for the millions of veterans in our country, this Veterans Day I’m sharing these seven ways you can support and give to those throughout the nation who fought for our country.
1. Send care packages and cards
When I was a kid, a local church dropped off a small care package at my grandfather’s house every Veterans Day. It included small tokens of appreciation, little gifts and treats, and, of course, several handwritten cards. While those packages always lifted his spirits, what meant more was the fact that they were gifted to his family too. The church didn’t just honor him; they honored my grandmother and my father as the family who supported his service too.
This year, consider how your church or family can do the same in your own community, not just for the veterans but for the families who served alongside them.
2. Pray for veterans by name
My grandfather lived his entire life in the same small town in Tennessee – the kind of place where everybody knows your name. Every Veterans Day, churches and ministries in the community made a point of letting him know they were praying for him by name. Not just that, they were also covering the individual members of his squadron scattered all over the country in prayer too.
As you think about praying for the veterans in your town, be specific. Pray for the ones you know by name, and ask them for the names of their fellow servicemen and servicewomen to pray for as well. Consider contacting your local Veterans Affairs office to get the names of others you can pray for this year.
3. Visit a memorial in their honor
One of the most difficult parts of returning home is the reality that not everyone you served with will return home alongside you. My grandfather spoke often about those in his unit who lost their lives in the line of duty, but he couldn’t always make the trip to visit their graves or memorials himself. Hearing the stories and seeing the photos of those who were able to visit showed him that their sacrifices were remembered.
If your community has memorials or cemeteries dedicated to the military, make time to visit them this month. Read their names, pray for their families, and leave flowers to honor their lives. You can also attend community events or memorials to honor their sacrifice alongside others.
4. Listen to and share their stories
An incredible storyteller by reputation, my grandfather was known to weave intriguing tales about his life. He met with the same friends – many fellow veterans themselves – every week for coffee in the same local restaurant.
What started as a gathering of veterans trading stories turned into sharing their experiences with fellow customers, staff, and community members passing through the restaurant. It gave them a chance not just to relive their experiences, but to pass them on to be shared by others as well.
There’s no greater connection point for human beings than a shared story. As you seek to honor the veterans in your life or in your community this year, do so by listening to their experiences with fresh ears. Ask them to share about their service with you, and then, let the story continue by sharing it with someone else in their honor.
5. Donate in someone’s honor to a charity that supports veterans
In a small drawer in his nightstand, my grandfather kept a small stack of cards held together by a flimsy rubber band. Each one represented a donation made in his name to a charity specifically supporting veterans. Those monetary gifts meant so much to him, not because they honored him but because they were directed to organizations helping his fellow servicemen and servicewomen.
Our veterans face all kinds of challenges as they return home from deployment. Many need help finding affordable housing, dealing with mental health needs, re-entering the workforce, and acclimating to a new sense of normal. One of the best ways to support them is to use your Giving Fund to grant resources to organizations specifically helping veterans.
6. Support a veteran-owned business or nonprofit
When his service ended, my grandfather returned home to help run his family-owned pharmacy on the town square. While he was always thankful for his customers, he especially valued them once he returned from the war. Their patronage kept his business going, both while he was away and when he came home, and that made finding his footing after the war just a little bit easier.
Research the businesses in your community that are owned and operated by veterans or that specifically employ veterans. Make a point this month to spend your time and money supporting them as a means of also supporting the veterans behind them.
7. Volunteer with an organization that supports veterans
Giving your time can make just as much of an impact as giving financial resources. Some of my grandfather’s fondest memories came from being served by volunteers from both local and national organizations. Whether they were doing a day’s worth of yard work, visiting him in the hospital, or driving him to appointments as he got older, their time and attention made a mark on his life.
Look for ways to volunteer with organizations that support veterans in your area. It doesn’t matter if you’re giving a car ride, an afternoon, or a full week of service, giving your time to those in your community who served our country is a great way to make a lasting impact.
I’ll never be able to express my gratitude for my grandfather and his time in the Army. Though he passed away in 2021, just shy of 100 years old, my family and I have continued to look for ways to honor him by honoring other veterans like him. As Veterans Day approaches this year, my prayer is that you’ll do the same — that you’ll take a step to serve those who have so faithfully served our country.
Photo: My grandfather, Lawrence Shelton, sharing stories with me (2019)
