Indeed, there is a whole list of things you could to thank someone for their military service that does not involve bare shaking hands or waving a flag at the army parade. There are more practical ways to express your gratitude and they are very much appreciated by ex-military service members and their families too.
 

So, without further ado, here is a straightforward list of actions you can take to say thanks for the military service!
 

1. Employ a Veteran

While the US army is the second largest employer in the US, that does not mean all of its employees remain until retirement age. Moreover, the courses organized by the army are usually not about skills that can easily be applied to some “regular” job. In addition, soldiers have a hard time prequalifying for something else while being on duty. Constant moves or battlefields are far from 9-5 job that allows for some time to take new courses.
 

For this reason, veterans can be very challenged to find a new job once they are no longer active. If you run your own business or you’re in a management position, reach out to veteran organizations or take someone’s service as a plus in their resume.
 

After all, they’re the reason the rest of us are allowed to do our jobs without interruptions.
 

2. Offer Career Advice or Training

Another way to help an ex-soldier (or their spouse) if you aren’t a hiring manager is to train them for the new role. Instructing them for the new civilian role can be priceless. You can also offer to give speeches or training in camps and help those that are interested.
 

3. Help Military Families

If you have a military family in your neighborhood, it would be recommendable to get in touch with them and check if there are any errands you could help them out with.
 

Due to the nature of their work, military families move a lot, which makes it hard to maintain connections. Families with children are also challenged as one of the parents can be on a mission for months. The offer of job employment is an excellent idea too.
 

4. Donate

The best thing is every donation counts. There is a number of organizations that help veterans and their families, and they are relatively easy to find online. Choose the one that appeals to you the most, or you can ask a veteran you know for a recommendation.
 

An interesting way of donating could also be making a care package. These are delivered to troops and are highly appreciated because they remind them of home and who they are sacrificing for, and the fact their time and health are invested for a good reason.

While you can make a care package on your own, there are also options to contact an organization that makes specialized packages for (ex) military members.
 

5. Hire a Veteran-Owned Business

Small businesses are thriving lately, but they do have a huge failure rate. Therefore, every support is more than welcome! You can contact the National Veteran Small Business Coalition and find out if they have someone offering the services you need.
 

6. Learn From a Veteran Speaker

A number of companies hire specialized speakers for corporate events. However, if one can teach you about taking risks and leading a group of people in tough times, there is hardly anyone better than a vet.
 

7. Donate Free Flyer Miles

If the nature of your business requires you to be constantly on the go, or should we say, in the air, you probably have more air miles to spare than you think. Instead of spending them on yourself, you could donate your frequent-flyer miles to a military family. That could help bring families together, especially in cases when a soldier was injured.

8. Pay for a Meal

If you see a service member having a meal at the place where you are dining too, talk to the wait staff or the manager and offer to pay for their meal. This is also a nice gesture showing spontaneous support and will be very much appreciated.
 

9. Lay a Wreath

Finally, one of the ways to say thank you for your service can be by expressing gratitude to the deceased. You can find an organization that specializes in delivering wreaths to army graves all over the US.
 

10. Display a Veteran Flag

Carrot-Top offers a wide selection of veteran flags to display and honor the veterans you hold near and dear. Our commemorative and retired military flags are fully licensed and include the emblems and logos of each branch of the armed forces. Our flags recognize U.S. Army, Navy, and Air Force veterans, and commemorative flags remember those who fought in World War II and other conflicts, as well as the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, the 10th anniversary of 9/11, and many other significant anniversaries.
 

Contact us today for assistance in placing an order!