18 Ways to Make Veterans Day More Meaningful

Veterans Day, celebrated each year on Nov. 11, is a chance to honor those who've served our country. Not to be confused with Memorial Day, when we remember those who've died in service, Veterans Day is all about acknowledging and thanking our military members, both past and present, for their courage and sacrifices. In addition to BBQing with friends, we've found 18 ways you can make this holiday more meaningful. Keep reading for more.

November elections take place right before Veterans Day, giving every eligible voter a chance to advocate for veterans and active duty military members through their votes. Take time to study candidates and propositions that could impact the livelihoods, benefits and opportunities for our current and former service members and vote accordingly. By doing so, you're actively supporting veterans and their families all year long.

One easy and wonderful way to show support to veterans is by showing up at your local community Veterans Day parade. Held throughout the country, these parades allow community members to celebrate the brave men and women who've served our country and highlight local heroes who've survived some of history's biggest wars. Take time to show them your appreciation by joining the festivities and reminding them that the past, and their sacrifices, will never be forgotten.

Throughout the nation there are many memorials and museums commemorating the sacrifices, courage and history of our military men and women. From the U.S.S. Arizona at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. (and everywhere in-between) there are numerous opportunities for patrons to visit and explore while learning about military history and warriors who paved the way for our nation's freedom.

Show deployed troops your support by sending them care packages abroad. These goody boxes often include things like snacks, hygiene, clothing items and entertainment to make their days a little brighter and their deployments a little easier. Don't know where to start? Not to worry. Organizations like Support Our Troops, Operation Gratitude and more make it easy for people outside the military community to participate in sending care packages to deployed service members all over the world.

While thanking a vet is great, listening to them share their stories is even better. This Veterans Day, don't just thank service members, invest time in getting to know them and learning about their lives. Older veterans can especially feel lonely, which makes reaching out to the ones in your community a great opportunity for them to have companionship and conversations that may be lacking in their day-to-day lives. Just know that not all vets are able or willing to talk about their time in service, and that's also OK.

Volunteering for or donating to organizations that help veterans, active duty military and their families is, perhaps, one of the most meaningful ways to celebrate Veterans Day. Non-profits like the USO (United Service Organizations), Blue Star Families, Fisher House, National Military Family Association, DAV (Disabled American Veterans), Patriot Paws and more all work to help current and former service members and their families with needs big and small and rely on volunteers and donations to continue their mission.

Honoring the men and women who've served our country begins by teaching our kids about the military, including the history of our armed forces and the important battles they've fought. Age-appropriate discussions can include learning the different branches of the military, and the major wars and lessons from the past to ensure our children grow up mindful of the bravery and courage it took to provide us with the freedoms and opportunities we have today.

Cemeteries may be spooky for some people, but for others, they're an important reminder of the people we've lost. For many deceased veterans, their tombstones mark their oft-forgotten legacy and deserve our respect. A great act of service on Veterans Day is to visit the graves of past service members and place a mini flag by their tombstone while also gently cleaning the area so other visitors can pay their respects to our fallen heroes.

Learning about the past is an important way to understand the future. This Veterans Day, take time to crack open a book and read about the prior battles, military leaders and amazing sagas that paint the history of our armed forces. School-aged children and teens can enjoy adventures like the "Ghosts of War" Scholastic series by author Steve Watkins (which, although fiction, are based on actual wars), while adults can read nail-biting true-stories like "Black Hawk Down" by Mark Bowden or "Band of Brothers" by Stephen E. Ambrose.

Movies can be entertaining and educational, making them a great way to learn about the history of our nation. Films like "Pearl Harbor" (seen here), "Saving Private Ryan," "American Sniper" and more highlight the courage and bravery of our veterans during wartime and can help audiences understand the sacrifices our service members have made. Just be sure to check the film's rating before watching with children because certain storylines can be too traumatic for young viewers.

For a century, it's been tradition to take a moment of silence at 11 a.m. on the 11th day of the 11th month to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War I in 1918. The tradition, originally practiced on Armistice Day (which later became Veterans Day in 1954) became an official Act of Congress in 2016 and today is meant to "honor the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the nation."

Do you really want to make a difference this Veterans Day? Why not use the day to inspire an act of kindness that can make the holidays merrier for military families? By adopting a military family for the holidays, you can help provide them with support, resources, gifts, food and more, which can make a world of difference for families of deployed service members or those experiencing financial hardships.

Wounded and aging veterans at local VA hospitals often battle loneliness which can hinder their recovery. By signing up to volunteer at or visit VA hospitals, you can make a difference in a veteran's life by providing companionship, support, running errands and more. Just know, it's important to first contact the Department of Veteran Affairs to learn about visiting and volunteering opportunities rather than showing up at the hospital unannounced.

You don't have to wait for Veterans Day to do something meaningful for vets. Whenever you're out to eat, pay attention to the customers around you. Is there a veteran in the same line or seated at a table nearby? Use the opportunity to pick up their tab. You can even do so anonymously and ask the wait staff to make sure to thank them for their service. Not only is it a pleasant surprise, it reminds them that their sacrifices have not been forgotten.

Sadly, an estimated 11 percent of homeless adults are also prior service members, with roughly half having once served in the Vietnam War. Even sadder, an estimated 1.4 million more veterans are considered at-risk for becoming homeless. One way you can help on Veterans Day is to support organizations like the Salvation Army and the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans that help get homeless veterans off the streets and into programs and housing that can change their lives for the better.

Plan on spending money this Veterans Day? Why not solicit businesses that are owned by vets in your community? By supporting veteran-owned small businesses, you're ensuring these brave men and women are able to support themselves and their families outside of the military by doing something they love. If you're not sure where to find veteran-owned businesses, you can search by your state.

Are you a business owner? This Veterans Day, make the commitment to hire veterans on your team. Not only do former service members bring a wealth of experience to any job, they also need our help to make the transition from military life to civilian employment. If you're not a business owner, you can still help by volunteering to work with veterans on learning job skills, refining their résumés and preparing for interviews.

For just a few dollars you can do something this Veterans Day to show your support to vets and all it takes is changing a bulb. By swapping out your regular porch light with a green lightbulb, you're participating in a nationwide movement known as Greenlight a Vet, which lets veterans in your area know you acknowledge and honor their service and sacrifices.