November 11th is Veteran’s Day. Here are some ideas to honor the veteran in your life.

Reminisce with a veteran

If he or she is up to talking about their service here are some simple questions to ask.

• What branch of the military were you in? What were the dates of your service?
• Did you enlist or were you drafted? Where did you do your basic training? Where did you get transferred to from there?
• Did you serve during wartime? Which war? What countries did you travel to? How did you travel?
• Tell me about the friends you made? Who were they? What did you do together off duty? What did they mean to you?

Display photos

Display photos of someone in uniform in your home to remember that period in their life. In a Nursing Home you can create a Hallway of Hero’s to display veteran’s photos.

Military scrapbook

Does your loved one have a military scrapbook? My father had so many pictures from his service in World War II that I placed them in a scrapbook with captions and his story. Many visitors to their home look at the scrapbook and ask him questions about his service.

Celebrate a veteran with a meal

Many restaurants celebrate veterans today with free or discounted meals. Or cook up a loved one’s favorite meal at home.

Book Club Discussion

Create a book club discussion about veterans, service, or a book written by a veteran.

Give an Appreciation for Your Service Certificate or Thank You Card

Give a handmade card saying thank you for your service or give a certificate of appreciation. These simple gestures go a long way in saying thank you. See the certificate below in the Caregivers Workshop.