I wanted to take a moment on this Veterans Day to do my best to go beyond an insufficient “Thank You” to all our nation’s veterans who have served and sacrificed to protect my freedoms. I have never personally served in any of the military branches, but have family members who have, including an uncle who served with the Navy in WWII. In spite of the fact that I am not a veteran, I still grew up learning that every American (myself included) owes an insurmountable amount of gratitude to all the men and women who have served and are serving today.
One of the many things I enjoy doing with my spare time is to watch videos on YouTube. My wife laughs at the broad range of topics I watch, from cooking to DIY to old movie clips. One of my favorite topics, though, is to watch videos of returning veterans surprising their families. You can be the hardest-hearted grinch on the planet, but these little kids who start crying upon seeing their military mommy or daddy surprise them will melt any frozen heart. Admittedly, I’ve teared up dozens of times just watching these precious reactions.
I also grew up in an era where the unthinkable happened. Veterans returning home from the Vietnam War were welcomed, not with a parade or thanks, but with jeers and contempt from a generation of ignorant and ungrateful lunkheads. It was years after the fact - and for many, too late - that they received the acknowledgement they deserved for their service.
So, on this Veterans Day, I wanted to offer three simple suggestions on how to go beyond thanks and a handshake. Whether you know a veteran or it’s a stranger you meet, let them know how much you appreciate their sacrifice and service.
SHARE THE NEWS
If you have an opportunity when in a large group, such as a church 
gathering, civic meeting, workplace meeting, etc. make it a public announcement and acknowledge any and all veterans to receive a standing ovation from the crowd. A single thanks is nice, but the roaring applause of a crowd is absolutely electric, and they deserve to feel like a superstar!
CHECK, PLEASE
Treat a veteran to a nice meal. It can be as elaborate as taking their entire family out on the town or as simple as a treating a veteran colleague to lunch, but picking up the check is only half the reason for going. Use that time to let them know how much you appreciate their service.
A JOB WORTH DOING IS WORTH DOING WELL
There are around 27-million small businesses is the United States. Of that amount, a mere 9% are veteran owned. Take the time to research the certified Veteran Owned Small Businesses in your area and use them!
These suggestions barely scratch the surface of how you can say thank you to a veteran, but whatever you do, make sure you do say Thank You in some way, shape or form. Not just on Veterans Day, but any time you cross paths with one of our nation’s finest.