Giving back during Memorial Day celebrations is a great way to show appreciation for the sacrifices of the men and women this day honors.
Memorial Day is synonymous with barbeques and block parties. It’s never a bad idea to have fun and spend time with loved ones, but it’s also important to remember why the day exists and consider giving a little back to the soldiers and veterans that this day honors.
Donate Flowers For Soldiers’ Graves
You can donate to an organization called Memorial Day Flowers, which places flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers at various cemeteries across the country. Of course, this includes Arlington National Cemetery. On their website, you can make a donation to reserve your flowers. You can also sign up to volunteer and help place flowers and bouquets!
The traditional Memorial Day Flowers Foundation flower distribution event will take place on Sunday, May 28, from 9:00 am to 5:00 PM.
Donate to Charities That Benefit Veterans
When you’re looking for charities to donate your money or time to, one of the best places to start is Charity Navigator. This site rates charities based on certain criteria. According to Charity Navigator, overall scores are determined based on various “beacon scores,” which can include accountability & finance, leadership & adaptability, and culture & community. You can visit their site to get more information on how they rate charities.
Some of the great veteran and military charities you can support include:
- Gary Sinise Foundation
- Building Homes For Heroes
- Homes For Our Troops
- Fisher House
- Semper Fi & America’s Fund
- Wounded Warriors Family Support
- K9s For Warriors
Write Letters to Active Soldiers
Whether it’s just you or you have kids that you want to get involved, few things are more uplifting to an active duty soldier than a handwritten letter that thanks them for their service and provides much-needed appreciation and support. You can send these letters through the A Million Thanks charity. This can be a valuable way to help teach kids about the meaning and importance of Memorial Day while giving them an opportunity to give a little something back to the soldiers that give so much to protect our country and our freedoms.
Make Care Packages for Active Soldiers
You can donate or volunteer with Operation Gratitude, which operates year-round to get care packages to “deployed troops, military children, recruit graduates, veterans, and first responders.” They also offer a service for sending letters of appreciation and support, much like the A Million Thanks charity.
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