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I received a copy of One of the Few by the author. All opinions featured are my own.
Veterans Day is coming up (here in the US) on Friday, November 11th. Not to be confused with Memorial Day, Veterans Day is to thank our living veterans for their service to our country (while Memorial Day in May is to thank those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.)
Last year my now-husband had moved up to Kentucky the week before Veterans Day, which I was thankful for. My bosses allowed me to take an extended lunch break during the middle of the workday, so I could take Andy to eat at Applebee’s since I was working my second job that evening. I loved seeing Andy interact with all of the veterans and exchange Army stories. Since my hometown is 2 hours from a military base, he was one of the few (if not only) active duty service members at Applebee’s.
I wanted to do something special for my husband this year in addition to the typical “go eat all the free foods” which Andy loves. That’s great, but I want to do something in addition to just eating. So if you’re looking for some ideas on how to celebrate the veteran in your life, here are a few ideas.
1. Books such as One of the Few. Although I didn’t know him at the time, Andy said when he returned from Afghanistan, he really struggled with his faith. This book, by a Marine fighter pilot and combat veteran, would have been perfect for him! To see my full thoughts on this book, check out my September book review.
2. Board games such as Disgruntled Decks. When Andy and I first heard about this game, we laughed so hard. It’s similar to the game Apples to Apples, but inappropriate (like Cards Against Humanity) and military-themed. I can’t wait to get it for Andy!
3. A night at a bed & breakfast. B&Bs for Vets is run by the Association for Independent Hospitality Professionals and over 200 innkeepers have partnered this year to offer free rooms to veterans and their families. Although we couldn’t spend the night at a B&B this year, we hope to in the future!
4. Do your veteran’s household chores. This idea comes from The 5 Love Languages, but one of my favorite ways to show my husband I appreciate him is to do his household chores. I particularly hate taking out the garbage, so Andy always feels loved when I do that.
5. Buy a Veteran’s Day card. My love language is words of affection, so I always buy Andy cards to express my feelings on big and small holidays alike. He has all of the cards saved from the very first one I gave him!
Bonus: Make “little soldiers” of your own. When I asked Andy for his thoughts on how to celebrate your veteran on Veterans Day, he first suggested food. When I said I had that covered, he then said “Make little soldiers of your own!” 😉
Before I end this post, I’m going to share a few photos of my soldier doing what he does best.
Anyone that knows my husband knows he is addicted to Mountain Dew! So for his entire deployment to Afghanistan, he lived off Rip-It’s and Kuwaiti-made “Mountain Dew”. When asked how to describe the taste, he said “Sandy sweaty camel hair.” …Sounds delicious!
How do you celebrate Veteran’s Day with your veteran?