An estimated 19 million veterans reside in the United States today, and since Veterans Day is coming up on November 11th, it’s time to show them how thankful we are for their service.
While we can’t ever truly repay our debt to them, we can take the time on Veterans Day to think about all they have done for us and say thank you. In order to show our appreciation, here are five ways to give thanks on Veterans Day, including how we chose to #BuildThanks with Lowe’s Home Improvement this year and how to DIY camouflage with paint. What better way than by going blue with a Blue Wreath decorated by our family!
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5 Ways to Give Thanks on Veterans Day
1) Take Time to Thank God
Veterans Day, like other holidays, is a great time to reflect on how blessed we are. But it’s not enough to simply say thank you; giving thanks means taking steps—big or small—to show our gratitude for what we have. Taking time with your family to say a prayer of thanks is such a beautiful way to bring everyone together and refocus on what matters.
2) Take Time to Thank Our Veterans
Veterans Day is a time for us all to take a moment and recognize those who have served in our armed forces. As we gather with family and friends, let’s be sure we remember those who gave their service and put their lives on hold—and entirely at risk—for us.
Going Blue with Lowe’s to Build Thanks
This year we partnered with Lowe’s Home Improvement to share our gratitude through a craft that holds a special place in my heart. With my grandfather serving our country, and my daughter’s dream to join the Armed Forces (all too soon!), I wanted our sign to be used for years to come and something that would be a welcome gesture to her someday as well. 😭 CUE THE TEARS.
We got together everything we needed to make a Veteran’s Day wreath! It’s a way to help veterans and military members feel welcome and appreciated. The blue wreath is a simple visual gesture that reminds them that they’re always welcome at home!
How to Paint Camouflage with Sponges
I wanted to use a simple camo pattern for the base, but go blue for Veteran’s Day, so kitchen sponges came to the rescue for this blue DIY camouflage with paint.
To create a camo pattern for your Veteran’s Day wreath you’ll need just a few supplies—many of which you probably already have! To paint the base of the sign try (named Veteran Blue for November!), and a couple of other blue colors I loved are and !
Of course, you can use whatever paint you have one hand, but I was drawn to these names and colors for our project AND I wanted to have these paint samples for another project we’re working on at The Mountainview Lodge!
We also had some painter’s tape and spare wood in our garage. (If you need a few things, that’s easy – Lowe’s has plenty of wood and supplies!)
Once I had the circle base painted in the camo pattern – by cutting random patterns into different kitchen sponges and using one per color – I also painted a blue star onto a smaller piece of wood we had cut to represent the Army (the branch my daughter wants to go into). And then attached a battery-operated LED light to the base wood circle, and then attached the top circle above it using a couple blocks of wood to keep it raised.
America is safer and stronger because of our veterans, and present service members. The sacrifices they make deserve our recognition and gratitude.
We encourage you to join in letting all veterans know that they are welcomed home!
3) Say Thank You to Our Service Members
This year, as we remember and honor those who served in all branches of our armed forces, we want to give thanks. And we want you—our readers—to be a part of it. Use your voice and say thank you by sharing your gratitude with those who keep us safe at home and abroad. It’s as easy as leaving a kind word or gesture for those in uniform, especially those that work at your local VA or military medical center. They do their job not because they have to but because they want to: Go visit them and let them know how much you appreciate what they do every day.
4) Spend Time with Loved Ones
If you don’t have family members who served in any capacity, spend time with those who do. The holidays can be a tough time for military families and veterans, and they deserve to be celebrated and honored. Take some time to volunteer at a local veteran’s hospital or hold a fundraiser. If you’re far away from your family, consider making a donation in their name. No matter what you do, remember that taking care of veterans is about honoring them and allowing them to heal.
5) Support Military Causes
Charities that support military members and their families are always in need of donations. Why not give back by helping them? Supporting these charities will honor our veterans every day of the year, even if it’s not November 11th.
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