Tag: veterans programs

Observing National POW/MIA Recognition Day

Posted on by Jordank

National POW/MIA Recognition Day is observed on Sept. 19 this year, honoring service members who were prisoners of war (POWs) and those who are still missing in action (MIA). Its eternal message? That POWs and MIAs will not be forgotten.

National POW/MIA Recognition Day became an official observance under President Jimmy Carter in 1979, with the families of more than 2,500 Vietnam POW/MIAs pushing for full accountability. While associated with those who served in Vietnam, the day isn’t limited to their recognition.

More than 130,000 U.S. service members were held as POWs in World War II, and 14,072 of them died. Some 7,000 were imprisoned in the Korean War, and 2,701 of them died. And 725 service members were imprisoned in Vietnam; 64 died.

According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, more than 83,000 Americans remain missing in action, including more than 73,000 from World War II and more than 7,000 from the Korean War. The number of MIAs in Vietnam is now 1,571.

The U.S. is one of the few countries in the world that prioritizes recovery and identification of its service members. Efforts are ongoing to identify MIAs — and each year, more men and women are identified from their remains and interred with military honors.

The most recent to be identified is U.S. Army Master Sgt. Donald P. Gervais, who was killed when his helicopter crashed in Vietnam’s A Shau Valley. U.S. Navy Capt. Thomas E. Scheurich was identified in April, 57 years after his A-6A Intruder was shot down.

The Vietnam Veterans of America’s Veterans Initiative Program helps identify remains, using clues from maps, stories, after-action reports, pictures and personal items. It’s just one of the initiatives funded in part by generous donations to ClothingDonations.org.

You can honor POW/MIAs in multiple ways this week. Fly a POW/MIA flag below or adjacent to your U.S. flag. Take a moment of silence when you see it flown. Wear a POW/MIA bracelet. Attend a local ceremony featuring the POW/MIA Missing Man Table. And support veterans organizations dedicated to recovering the missing.

Embracing Summer’s Bounty

Posted on by Jordank

#Summertime offers an embarrassment of riches — warm weather, #holidays to celebrate and cookouts galore. If you don’t like the heat, there are air-conditioned #summer blockbusters, pool parties and water sports to help keep cool.

Summer delivers bounty in the form of fresh fruits and vegetables, too. Whether you grow your own favorites in a backyard #garden or visit the local farmer’s market, there’s no match for fresh, flavorful produce harvested in season.

Here at The Organizing Blog, we enjoy growing heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, chard and herbs — and with the recent heat wave, are looking forward to a bumper crop. In less than a month, we’ll be running out of ways to use it all!

We’ll grill sweet corn and summer squash. We’ll bake zucchini bread and tomato-and-chard tarts. We’ll blend up potato-leek soup, basil pesto and fresh salsa. And we’ll make a host of other dishes that celebrate summer.

There are ways to keep enjoying that bounty year-round, say the chefs at The Chopping Block. Some vegetables can be blanched and frozen, and even more can be pickled and canned. And to enjoy a summery entrée later in the year, cook an extra and freeze it for a wintry day.

Even as you discover creative new ways to eat your way through the season, consider for a second whether your material bounty — your stockpile of owned, nonperishable things — is getting out of hand.

Summer is a great time to cull through those possessions and #organize. Cold weather won’t get in the way of #decluttering, and you can always stage a #garage sale to make a little money off the things you no longer want or need.

You can also #donate lightly used #clothing and household goods to ClothingDonations.org year-round with a #free #donation #pickup. Resale of those goods helps fund valuable #veterans programs.

However you choose to embrace summer’s bounty, remember that it won’t be around for long. Now’s your chance to enjoy everything that summer has to offer! #SummerBounty

Shop for Cookout Tools at the Thrift

Posted on by Jordank

Missing some essential #grilling tools for your upcoming #Memorial Day #cookout? Look no further than the local #thrift and #secondhand shops supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org. Thrifts are a great source for the dishes, bakeware, tools and small appliances that make #cooking a breeze — and a great source of festive holiday decorations, too. You never know what you’ll find at the thrift, and the proceeds from your purchases go toward essential #veterans programs. What better way to observe Memoiral Day? #MemorialDayHacks

Set Your Thanksgiving Table at the Thrift

Posted on by Jordank

Hosting a #holiday feast but don’t have the proper table settings? Never fear — #thrift and #secondhand stores are overflowing with previously owned serving dishes, dinnerware and glassware that can lend your #Thanksgiving table a hint of seasonal elegance without a lot of money. Dishes and platters “don’t have to match exactly but should go together,” says Jane’s Distractions. “Here is where you can start to design the table with colors, textures or shapes.” For a great selection, visit a thrift store that’s supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org; the proceeds from #resale will go toward programs that help #veterans during the #holidays! #EasiestThanksgiving

Honoring Those Who Served on Veterans Day

Posted on by Jordank

Established in the aftermath of World War I, Armistice Day commemorated the armistice with Germany, which ended the war on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. Renamed in 1954, the holiday has expanded to recognize military veterans from every U.S. conflict as #Veterans Day.

Events around the country will feature parades, speakers and moments of silence in recognition of veterans. One of the biggest this year will be held at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 11 to mark the 40th anniversary of the dedication of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.

Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) will stage a “Massing of the Colors” at The Wall in the run-up to the main ceremony, bringing color guards from chapters and state councils across the country to salute to veterans lost and surviving. VVA will also participate in one of the largest annual ceremonies, the annual wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

Companies employing veterans can get in on the act, Military.com says, by treating them to lunch, recognizing their sacrifice in a company newsletter, sharing stories of their service with clients and vendors, recognizing their families, or engaging in a day of community service on veterans’ behalf. Contact a local veterans service organization (VSO) to plan an event.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers a handy guide to Veterans day activities if you’d like to stage your own observance. From a full-on ceremony including guest speakers, posting of colors and Taps, to classroom activities, musical programs and poster contests, all can garner respect and #honor for the nation’s veterans.

You can make your Veterans Day observance more personal if you know of a friend or family member who has served. Send a card, volunteer to take them to the local parade, or invite them out to dinner in gratitude for their service. They’ll appreciate the gesture!

And remember, every #donation you make to ClothingDonations.org helps fund essential veterans programs and events like the ones mentioned above. Schedule a free, #contactless #donation #pickup today!