America celebrates this annual holiday with volunteer work, days off, media specials and parades, but what exactly is the momentous day and why is it so important? Veterans Days has traditionally been celebrated on November 11^th since its creation by President Woodrow Wilson. President Wilson first established this day under the name Armistice Day after the worst of World War I in 1918.

President Wilson described the meaning of this special day with the following words: “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…”

These great words exemplified the honor this day should bring to all veterans who fought so bravely to defend America. The original concept of the day was one full of parades and speeches in honor of the returning soldiers. The day was finally signed into law as Armistice Day in 1926 to serve as a remembrance for the worst war thatAmericahad been involved in to date. The day was to be commemorated with prayers of thanksgiving and honor to bring peace and mutual peace among nations in hopes that no war would reach the level of World War I.  On June 1, 1954 President Dwight D. Eisenhower legally changed Armistice Day into Veterans Day to honor all war veterans, not just those who fought in World War I.

Veterans Day will always be a day to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of their country, and selfless sacrifice for the common good of their country. This Veterans Day should be celebrated by all Americans to honor those soldiers returning from Afghanistan. It is important to honor our returning soldiers for the commitment and dedication to their communities. They are true examples of dedicated volunteers.

How can you reach out to your veterans this holiday season? You can participate in projects both big and small, from a thank you card to a fundraising campaign benefiting Veterans Affairs. There are many ways that you can help out this Veterans Day and onward; check out HandsOn Network’s Community Blueprint toolkit for projects ideas and volunteer opportunities around you! Happy Veterans Day to all!

Are you volunteering on Veteran’s Day, or do you regularly volunteer with an organization that supports veterans, active duty military, or military families? Let us know about your service in the comments!

This upcoming Friday is Veterans Day. What is your organization doing to help your veteran employees and affiliates? We are constantly confronted by news stories about job bills for veterans being blocked in Congress. It is often easy to forget that there are everyday things that our organizations can do that will help make our veterans feel appreciated in their workplace.

Many programs are being developed to help our returning veterans such as the Veterans Gold Card, My Next Move for Veterans, and the Veterans Job Bank. All these programs are great initiatives for veterans, but it is easy to still feel discouraged by the current job market. These veterans return from spending 10 years defending our country only to be confronted by a 12% veteran unemployment rate in the United States.

This Veterans Day is the perfect opportunity for your organization to begin initiatives to end low hopes for veterans in the work force. How can you begin increasing morale and initiative to better your workplace for veteran employees? The following are a few ideas to get you started.

• Allow returning veterans flexibility in their work schedule to reconnect with family
• Provide resume writing and interview skill workshops or webinars
• Give them time to relearn their job if returning from war
• Spread the word about Veterans Day in the office place by marking calendars, sending e-reminders, and displaying Veteran Day posters
• Ask veteran employees to share their story and military picture so that it may be displayed in the office on Veterans Day. Some employees have no idea they are working alongside war veterans.
• Raise awareness by sending out a company wide email featuring stories about your veteran employees
• Send a personal letter to your veteran employees thanking them for the great work they are doing
• Suggest that your company have a moment of silence for those who lost their lives while serving the country
• Propose a company Veteran Affinity Group that can provide different resources to veteran employees

It is very important that we acknowledge those who have served our country this Veterans Day because we have so many men and women returning from service this year. Many return with emotional and physical damage due to not only war but the current state of the economy. It is important that companies honor these men and women when they return to work.

Is your organization doing something special to help your veterans this holiday season? We would love to hear about it! Share your insights in the comment section of our page.

November 11^th is Veterans Day, a national holiday where Americans remember the soldiers who dedicated their lives to serving their country. While it is very important to honor the memory of our soldiers, it is also important to remember the families who supported these soldiers.

Every day spouses, children, and parents are forced to say goodbye to their loved ones when they are deployed. These families must try to maintain life as usual. They may even have to settle into new communities where they do not receive critical familiar and local support during this difficult time. Although these families experience high levels of stress while their loved ones are deployed, life can be just as difficult when they return due to injury or mental illness.

November 11^th is not only a great opportunity for your community or organization to honor those citizens who dedicated their lives to serving their communities, but also to those family members who dedicated their lives to supporting their veterans. Military families may find difficulty finding childcare, locating good schools, scheduling doctor’s appointments, and maintaining a home.

These families need support while their loved ones are away and even when they return. These needs can easily be met through the work of communities, organizations, and volunteers. Volunteers can be both a resource for help but also as a source of support for these families. The following are a few suggestions to get your community involved in assisting these families during not only Veterans Day, but also year round.

• Complete a Create The Good project where you can help military families with handy work around the house, babysitting, or preparing a meal.
• Host card signing parties during holidays such as Christmas or Valentines Day where every guest can make a card thanking a family for all they do.
• You can organize a recurring sports game for military families. Meetup.com is a great resource to spread the word about your event.
• Organize a moms day away from kids event where you can offer babysitting services to military moms who need to run errands and spend time away from the kids.
• You can find all sorts of service projects to help out military families such as doing yard work through Joining Forces.
• Encourage your local representatives to honor military families on Veterans Days as well
• Contact your local newspaper’s editor about spotlighting local families and outreach events

President Obama has stated that all military will return before the year is over. Military families need support during this emotional time. You can help them at all levels. It is important to honor their presence in your community and all the dedication they offer to their loved ones.

Know a family or have an idea about recognition? We would love to hear about it, share your comments below.