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Veterans Day is celebrated every November 11th and is an excellent opportunity to honor and thank the servicemen and women who have served in every branch of the armed forces.
It can be hard to know what to say besides, “Thank you for your service,” so if you need some inspiration, you’ve come to the right place!
Veterans Day is a happy celebration during which each American has the opportunity to thank those who have served the nation in military service. As opposed to Memorial Day , Veterans Day isn’t a solemn occasion. Because of this, saying “Happy Veterans Day” to a veteran can be used in the same way a greeting like “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Thanksgiving” is used.
However, if you want to really encourage a veteran and thank them for their service, then coming up with something more inventive than simply saying, “Happy Veterans Day” will go a long way.
If you spend the day with a veteran you know, whether it’s your brother, sister, cousin, or grandfather, you’ll have a unique opportunity to thank them in person for their service. Here are a few ways to say thank you .
Many veterans would say they aren’t heroes, but simply did their duty as an American. Let them know how much you think of them and tell them that they’re a hero in your eyes.
If the veteran you know would appreciate flowers, be sure to get a patriotic flower arrangement with red, white, and blue flowers. Include a note telling them how thankful you are for their service.
Pro Tip: Dress up the bouquet by adding a mini American flag and wrapping it in red or blue cellophane.
If you know of a veteran who doesn’t have family around or is separated from family due to distance, invite them over for a Veterans Day meal or BBQ at your home. Tell them how much you appreciate their service.
If a veteran you know has an organization that is dear to them, consider donating to the cause in their name. Send them a message along with the donation notification thanking them for their service.
If you know of a veteran who would be interested in having someone listen to their stories, invite that person over on Veteran’s Day. Host a get together where they can share their stories and your friends and family can listen to an eyewitness account of history.
It might not always be practical to thank a veteran you know in person. If you know of a veteran you want to thank and can only send a letter or card, this next section is for you.
This is a heartfelt message that shares how you feel about their service on behalf of the country.
Ask your friends, children, and neighbors to write thank you notes to the veteran you know. Collect all the notes and send them together in one package so they’ll have a bunch of cards to open.
To prolong the enjoyment of receiving letters and cards, have everyone you know write cards and letters, but instead of sending them in one package altogether, mail them one at a time, every other day. This way, they’ll have a week or two of receiving cards. They might just write you back saying, “ thank you for your support .”
Sometimes, simply thanking someone for what they have done is all that needs to be said.
Telling a veteran how much you appreciate their service, their sacrifice, and their contribution to America will encourage them and help them know that their sacrifice has not been forgotten.
If you’re going to a parade, or live along a parade route, make a sign to thank the veterans passing by and bring a smile to their face by showing you care . Signs and banners have a limited amount of space, so make your words count!
This is simple and short, but to the point and will communicate your gratitude.
Let the veterans that see your banner know that they’re heroes in your eyes.
America is free because of the brave. Use this to recognize the brave men and women you know.
This short phrase will be deeply meaningful for veterans with a religious background to see.
A sign like this is perfect for kids to hold. Even better—have your kids write it, too!
Read our guide on how to honor fallen veterans for more ideas.
Social media provides a perfect opportunity to thank veterans you know, near and far. Take some time on Veterans Day to put together a post thanking them for their service.
Set this message to “public” on your social media account and anyone will be able to see it. People you don’t even know will appreciate these words and feel honored and respected for their years of sacrifice.
Post a picture of your child pledging to the flag, waving a flag, or doing something patriotic. Attach a message thanking the veterans you know for their service.
Record yourself sharing how much it means to you that veterans served in the armed forces. Share why their service is important, what you respect about it, and personally shout out any veterans you know.
Pro Tip: Make it even more interesting by including friends or children in your message. Have each person say one thing they appreciate about veterans or personally thank someone they know. Once the video is posted, be sure to tag each veteran mentioned in the video.
If you have a photograph with you and a veteran, post it with a message. Be sure to tell them how thankful you are for their service, how much you appreciate their sacrifice, and how much you respect them for the way they served.
Use a message like this and post it directly on your friend’s social media page. If they don’t have a page, post it to yours and tag them or someone they know to ensure they see it.
Choose a veteran organization such as AMVETs and host a fundraiser for a week starting or ending with Veterans Day. Be sure to explain why you’re hosting a virtual fundraiser, what the organization does for veterans, and why you personally appreciate their work.
During the week leading up to Veterans Day, post messages for veterans in each branch, thanking them for their services. By thanking vets and specifically mentioning the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, you’ll encourage and honor vets deeply by recognizing their specific branch of service.
Find a gif that has patriotic elements or a thank you message. Sometimes, a GIF can speak for you if you don’t know what else to say.
Pro Tip: Search GIFs for each branch of the military to find the right message. If you’re thanking a specific individual, find a gif that highlights the branch they served in to personalize your thank you message.
Tag the veterans you know in this message for a quick way to honor them.
This simple message shares the reason why veterans should be honored and respected—their sacrifice for our freedoms.
When Veterans Day rolls around each year, take the opportunity to honor a vet you know. Don’t let time pass you by until it’s too late to thank them. If you’re still finding it hard to figure out what to say, just remember that it’s always the thought that counts—and your friend will know when you are sincerely grateful for their sacrifice.
