One good way to celebrate National Vietnam War Veterans Day is to find an observance led by #veterans in your area. #Vietnam Veterans of America and other groups will host solemn events at memorials nationwide to recognize #service and #sacrifice. In Walla Walla, Washington, for example, veterans and friends will meet at the local memorial for coffee, donuts and Vietnam War-era music, as well as a small display of classic cars. Google “National Vietnam Veterans Day events near me” to find an observance in your area and #support your local veterans. #NationalVietnamVeteransDay
Tag: thanking veterans
What Does Freedom Mean?
Amid the bombast of the fireworks, the festivities of the family cookout and the splashy hubbub of the pool party on Independence Day, you might take a minute to think about what #freedom means. Few of these celebrations would be possible without it — or at least they might not be nearly so joyous.
Too often, the word “freedom” is misused in service to a partisan position, author, Afghanistan war correspondent and documentarian Sebastian Junger told Military Times upon the 2021 release of his book, Freedom. “Freedom comes with responsibility. Freedom means freedom from oppression, not freedom from obligation.”
While The Organizing Blog regularly talks about freedom from #clutter, true freedom is an all-encompassing imperative. Even as you thank a #veteran, remember that you, too, are in the fight. Be wary of those who misuse the term in service to an ideology that seeks to undermine it, and join in the work to guarantee that every person in America is equally entitled to lead a life of liberty.
“Freedom is being able to come out of your house and do what you want to do,” Maryland veteran Harrison “Lumpy” Johnson told the Severna Park Voice in 2015. “People complain all the time about the country and where we are headed. We have freedoms other countries do not have. When The Star-Spangled Banner plays, it gets me.”
The concept is not lost on children. “Freedom to me is being able to go school to get an education, to go to church to practice my religion, to have a house to call a home,” wrote Kylar Thomas, winner of the Manistee (Michigan) VFW’s 2015 Patriots Pen contest. “These are just a few of the things we have in the United States that some countries cannot do freely. That is why many people from other countries want to move to the United States.
“We are a country that has brave men and women who have fought to protect these rights. They know first-hand how important it is to be thankful and to protect our freedom,” Thomas noted in his essay. “We need to be grateful for all they do and the sacrifices they made for our country.”
The definition of freedom may be just a little bit different for every person in the good ’ol U.S. of A. It’s a melting pot of cultures and attitudes — people working together toward a brighter future. That’s what makes the country great and free. Remember to celebrate that fact in the weeks ahead.
Happy Fourth of July from the Vietnam Veterans of America and ClothingDonations.org!
Don’t Forget Living Veterans on Memorial Day
While Memorial Day honors those who have made the ultimate #sacrifice in #service to the nation, it never hurts to support living #veterans, too. Many know the sacrifice personally, and lived to tell the tale. Some need assitance such as health care, financial support or simple companionship. That’s where ClothingDonations.org comes in: By collecting and reselling #donations of lightly used clothing, small appliances, furniture and other household goods, we help fund valuable #veterans programs throughout the country, helping all who served access housing, health care and benefits claims, as well as offering fellowship. #MemorialDay
Keep Memories Alive for Memorial Day
Finding a parade or commemorative event is as simple as Googling “Memorial Day near me.” But if you’re more the type to host a #cookout, go on a hike or spend the long weekend in a hotel, you can still observe the #sacrifice those who gave their lives in service made. Fly the flag, donate flowers or shop a #veteran-owned business, Good Housekeeping suggests. Learn a #patriotic song, visit a cemetery or post a tribute to social media. Whatever you choose, any heartfelt observance is a great way to keep the memory of the nation’s fallen service members alive. #MemorialDay
Get Ready for Memorial Day Events Nationwide
Observances throughout the country will be staged over the long weekend to recognize the #sacrifice of those who perished defending the United States. One popular annual event is the National Memorial Day Concert, which is set to be broadcast on Sunday, May 28, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET live from the U.S. Capitol. A remembrance ceremony will take place on Monday, May 29, with a speech from President Biden. More than 130 Veterans Administration events are planned, as well as countless local parades and #memorial observances. “On Memorial Day, we #honor the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” says VA Secretary Denis McDonough. #MemorialDay