How Not to Forget Our Disabled Veterans And Their Families Around the Holidays

I travel a good bit, and in the many airports in which I fly in and out of I see our Military men and women . I walk up to most and say, thank you for serving and I let them know that they are in my prayers. My Mom will give a hug or two and it's a pleasure to see their smiles. It crossed my mind that how many of us live next door to or down the street from a Military family, especially one that has lost a serviceman or servicewoman, or one that has a disabled veteran. Do most of us remember these families around Christmas, Thanksgiving or any other Holiday? Military families that have lost their Dads who used to shovel snow, rake leaves, or play ball with their sons, or Military Moms who used to take their daughters shopping or have girls night out. Here are some things, small as they may seem, that we can do to show love for Military families.

For that injured serviceman or servicewoman who used to do house work / home repairs, etc., but is limited in their mobility, and especially if he or she lives alone.

• Offer to shovel snow during the Winter months
• Offer to cut or bring wood for their fireplace
• Offer to rake leaves in the Fall
• Offer to cut the grass in the Summer
• Offer to put up and take down 4th of July decorations
• If you are a Handyman or Handy-woman, offer, free of charge, to repair something in their home or to paint
• Offer to take the injured serviceman or servicewoman to their therapy, if the need arises
• Call, e-mail and/or spend time with the injured serviceman or servicewoman
• Cook meals that can be frozen and taken out later for reheating
• Take the disabled veteran grocery shopping or shopping for other household necessities
• Offer to help put up and take down their Christmas decorations
• Offer to cook a portion of their Thanksgiving meal or invite them over for Thanksgiving
• Offer to cook a portion of their Christmas meal
• Offer to clean house for them or pay for a cleaning service to come in and do it for them
• Go with or take the disabled veteran to church if they want to attend
• If the disabled veteran is a woman, offer to wash and style her hair, if she needs help
• Offer to take the disabled veteran to the airport if they want to visit their family for the Holidays, or pay for a car service to take them
• Offer to help hang or display in their home memorable Military items, if the disabled veteran needs assistance doing so
• If you're a Barber or a Hair Stylist, offer free Holiday haircuts for the entire family

For the Military family that had a fallen loved one.

• Do some of the things mentioned above
• If you know that one income has been lost to that family, give gift cards from grocery stores. Don't forget about the children and maybe give fast food gift cards to them
• If you have been blessed in your finances, offer to pay a utility bill for a month or two
• If you've won a free Ham or Turkey from your job, give it to a Military family, again thinking about the lose of income from losing a loved one

Always remember that Freedom is not free no matter what time of the year it is. We need to pray for and love our Military all year 'round.