Member Log In

Pets for Patriots

Companion pet adoption for United States military veterans and service members

  • Adopt a pet
    • How it works
    • Veteran benefits
    • Program availability
    • Proof of service
    • Eligible pets
    • Pre-qual application
  • Be a veterinary partner
    • How it works
    • Benefits
    • Criteria & eligibility
    • Application
  • Be a shelter partner
    • How it works
    • Benefits
    • Eligible pets
    • Criteria & eligibility
    • Application
  • Donate Now
    • Donate online
    • Ways to give
    • Spread the word
  • More
    • About us
      • Vision
      • Mission
      • Our team
      • Board of Directors
      • Financial accountability
      • Year in review
      • Program availability
    • Making an impact
      • Forget Me Not
      • The Wet Nose Blog
      • Partner News
      • Donor News
      • Home at last
      • Welcome Home
      • Hotel to Home
    • Friends & Partners
      • Veterinarian partners
      • Shelter partners
      • Sponsors
      • Banfield
      • VIP Petcare
      • Community partners
    • Resources
      • Donor FAQ
      • Veteran FAQ
      • Shelter FAQ
      • Veterinarian FAQ
      • Other resources
    • Connect with us
      • In the news
      • Free wallpaper
      • Contact us
Wet Nose Blog
Home › Extra › Five ways to honor our military veterans every day of the year

Five ways to honor our military veterans every day of the year

November 11, 2014Extra

Five ways to honor our military veterans

At Pets for Patriots, every day is an opportunity to honor our military veterans.

Here are a few ways to show gratitude to veterans and their families every day of the year.

Visit sick, injured, and elderly veterans

Many veterans in hospitals, nursing or retirement homes struggle with loneliness and depression. They would welcome someone coming by for a visit.

Ask the staff beforehand if personal care items or home-baked goods are permitted. But remember that the greatest gifts are your time, companionship, and willingness to listen.

If visitation is not possible, ask staff at the facility about arranging video calls. Find out if gifts of personal care items, holiday treats, or other goods may be sent directly to patients in their care. If so, order from local small businesses, which will give them a much-needed lift as well.

Hire or help a veteran get a good (or better) job

Returning Iraq and Afghanistan veterans face higher rates of unemployment than both civilians and other veteran generations. Those 18-25 years old face the highest percentage of unemployment.

You may not be in a position to hire. But recommending a veteran you know at your place of work is a great way to honor our military veterans. It helps them provide for their families and re-integrate to civilian life.

If you are retired or your business is not hiring, help a newly returned service member write a resume. Sponsor a veteran at a professional networking event, or help a veteran acquire skills to land a new – or better – job.

In addition, many veterans may be eligible for preference-based hiring by the federal government.

Adopt a veteran or military family

The spouses, partners, children, and parents of military members serve, too. They sacrifice the comfort and companionship of their loved ones during deployments, change of duty stations, and other realities of military life.

Still others make the ultimate sacrifice when they lose their service member in action or even to suicide.

In addition, 40 percent of veterans are 65 or older, including many who live alone or far from their loved ones.

Honor our military veterans by offering to help with minor home repairs, local errands, or just asking if they want to talk. Check in from time to time since they may be hesitant to ask for help.

Invite a local military family or veteran to your holiday dinners or weekend cookouts, knowing that they may be without a mother, father, spouse or child. 

If an in-person gathering is a challenge, there are still ways to embrace veterans and military families in your community.

Deliver a home-cooked meal, host a small outdoor gathering, or arrange a regular video chat to stay in touch. Offer to help with yard work or other exterior home maintenance.

Support veterans’ causes

The scope, variety, and urgency of veterans’ needs is vast and growing. This is especially true as more service members return from the Middle East and other conflict zones around the world.

Nonprofit, community, and faith-based organizations are a critical support network for veterans at all stages of their careers.

Find a veterans service organization that inspires you – like Pets for Patriots. Give as often and generously as you can. Even if you are unable to contribute financially, volunteer or spread the word about their good work.

The pandemic, inflation, and recession fears have impacted the finances and operations of nearly every nonprofit organization. Ask the charity of your choice how you can help, even if you are unable to make a financial donation.

And remember that gifts of $5 or more can go a long way to supporting the nonprofit’s mission.

Say “Thank you”

Honor our military veterans by acknowledging their service when you encounter them in your daily life. It may be a veteran in uniform, or one wearing a commemorative military cap or jacket.

Step forward, extend your hand and say, “Thank you for your service.” 

If the veteran seems open to more conversation, ask what branch of service he or she served in, where they served, and what was their role. Do not ask anything invasive, but do say “Thank you for your service” again before departing.

PreviousNext

2 comments

  1. Mary Eaton says:
    May 28, 2018 at 10:18 pm

    Well said Robert. May your son and his fellow unit members have a safe return from this deployment. Thank you for your years of service as well as your son’s.

  2. Robert E Alexander says:
    May 28, 2018 at 10:06 pm

    It was with Honor that I wore the shirt with the names of the 25 Marines and 3 canine Hero’s from my Marine son’s MARSOC Unit that gave their last full measure of devotion to our country during their 8 deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan . GOD bless and comfort the families of these fallen American Hero’s. As a disabled old Vet I salute them with my whole heart. My Marine son is about to go on his 10Th. deployment and as always I have told him that I would be there to carry him home if he is called on to sacrifice his all . I still mourn for the for brother Airmen who gave their all at our detachment in Bien-Hoa in December 1968. GOD bless and keep our warriors !!!!

Comments are closed.

Join the Conversation

  • Cat tales
  • Dog tales
  • Hope for a home
  • Mental health
  • Extra
  • Pet training & health
  • Donor News


Give with Confidence

logo logo logo logo
Make a donation today
email-icon

Did you enjoy this story?
Don’t miss the next one.

Sign up for our newsletter and get stories like these directly in your inbox.


The Dodo and GEICO honor Pets for Patriots adoptions by sharing their heartwarming tales

WATCH THE VIDEOS

Petco Foundation

PetMeds Logo 300x250

Shop 1800PetMeds for all of your pet’s health needs and we’ll get 10% of your purchase!

Shop Bissell Today!

Shop BISSELL for your home cleaning needs and they will donate 10% of your purchase to us!

Join the Conversation

Stay Connected

Join the conversation, read recent adoption stories, view featured pets needing new homes and more.

Twitter

@petsforpatriots

Follow Us

Instagram

@petsforpatriots

Clark retired from the Marines after more than 20 Clark retired from the Marines after more than 20 years of service to our nation. And in 2012 he was one of our early adopters - literally and figuratively - when he rescued then 2 year-old Ellie.

Ellie is now 13 and the pint-sized pup is still living large with Clark and his family, who recently gave us this heartfelt shoutout:

"Wanted to thank you for the many years of support your team has provided! It has helped out immensely over the years! Thank you all for what you have done and for what you continue to do."

Sounds like a mission accomplished to us!

Thanks to our partners @ranchocoastal - one of our earliest shelter partners - for this enduring match, and for continuing to waive adoption fees for veterans in our program.

#gotchadayanniversary #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterdog #adoptashelterpet #militaryfamily #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #usmarines #usmarinecorps #petsforvets
Ahoy, mate! Noah retired from the Navy and just th Ahoy, mate! Noah retired from the Navy and just threw a lifeline to Kali, a stunning Cane Corso mix. This big, beautiful girl was in the care of our partners @norfolkanimals which gives veterans we serve 50% off adoption fees.

Click to the next photo to see their freedom ride pic!

#canecorsoofinstagram #canecorso #bigdogs #bigdogsofinstagram #bigdogstrong #adoptdontshop #adoptashelterpet #adoptashelterdog #weratedogs #navyveteran #navy #usn #usnavy #norfolkva
CJ is a disabled Marine veteran who finds joy in t CJ is a disabled Marine veteran who finds joy in the simple pleasures of life, including the addition of an older cat who joined her after the loss of a beloved pet.

Click the link in our bio to read their tale!

Thanks @sdhumanesociety for helping us make this purr-fect story possible and for waiving adoption fees for veterans in our program. ❤️

#sdhumanesociety #femaleveteran #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #cats_of_instagram #cutecat #cutecats #cutecatsofinstagram #nalacat #adoptasheltercat #adoptaseniorpet #oldcatsofinstagram #oldcats #twoisbetterthanone
You know it's love when your new Marine Corps dad You know it's love when your new Marine Corps dad gives up his armchair for you. ❤️

Congratulations to nearly 9 year-old Holly Belle who's already made herself at home. She met Chuck through our partners @fredspca - which waives adoption fees for veterans we serve...oorah!

#olddogsrule #seniordogsofinstagram #adoptaseniordog #adoptaseniorpet #olddogsofinstagram #cutedogs #weratedogs #usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #iserved #iadopted #petsforvets
Wishing all of our Jewish friends around the world Wishing all of our Jewish friends around the world a sweet New Year, especially the men and women of the U.S. military who serve in all corners of the world in defense of our freedoms, including the freedom to practice (or not) the faith of our choosing.

L'shana tovah!

#lshanatova #lshanahtovah #roshhashana #roshhashanah #happynewyear #jewishnewyear #freedom #freedomofreligion #sweetnewyear
Meet two of our recent cat-tastic heroes: * Tim i Meet two of our recent cat-tastic heroes:

* Tim is active duty Army and just became cat dad to Iceburg - one cool cat (sorry, we couldn't resist)! Thanks to @jeffcospca for this purr-fect match and for giving veterans we serve $100 adoption fees.

* Andre is an Army National Guardsman with a heart for older pets. He met 11 year-old Camo (great name!) through our partners @nfsaws in Connecticut, which offers our veterans 50% off adoption fees.

#cats_of_instagram #adoptasheltercat #adoptashelterpet #adoptdontshop #nalacat #whitecat #calicocat #seniorpetsofig #adoptaseniorcat #armylife #army #army #armynationalguard #petsforvets #realmenlovecats
It's adoptapalooza "J" edition! * Jonasia is an A It's adoptapalooza "J" edition!

* Jonasia is an Army veteran who visited our partners @bmorehumane and added 3 year-old Josey to her family. This gorgeous hound and her adorable human sister are both so pretty in pink...twinning!

* James is an Iraq war veteran who needed the comfort of a 4-legged battle buddy. Three year-old Nami fit the bill after being in the care of our partners @lollypopfarm!

* Jacob is active duty Army and met Charlemagne at @jeffcospca where this stunning Shepherd-Retriever mix just fetched a new home!

Thanks to all of our shelter partners mentioned in this post - and across the country - who help us place animals in need with our nation's heroes.

#adoptdontshop #armyveteran #army #armystrong #houndsofinstagram #muttsrule #petsforvets #femaleveteran #iraqwar #militaryfamily #militaryfamilies #battlebuddies
Jeff has always believed in doing the right thing Jeff has always believed in doing the right thing as his guiding philosophy. Eventually that attitude led the Marine Corps veteran to save a shelter dog who would forever change his perspective on adoption.

Click the link in our bio to read this truly inspirational tale!

#usmcveteran #usmc #marinecorps #usmarines #marinecorpsveteran #iraqwar #combatveteran #militaryfamily #cutedogsofinstagram #weratedogs #adoptdontshop #petsforvets #muttsrule
22 years after the 9/11 terror attacks we continue 22 years after the 9/11 terror attacks we continue to honor the lives of thousands of souls lost that day and in the years that followed, including two as yet unnamed victims identified within the last few days.

May they all rest in heavenly repose with the knowledge that we will never waiver, we will always stand on the side of freedom, and we will never, ever forget.

#september11 #neverforget #neverforgotten #nineeleven #911 #worldtradecenter #marines #army #coastguard #navy #airforce #fdny #nypd #rip #waronterror #freedom #freedomisntfree #shanksville #pentagon
Follow Us

© 2023 Pets for Patriots, Inc. | Privacy policy | Terms of use | Contact us

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.

email-icon

Let’s keep in touch.

Sign up for our newsletter to get recent adoption stories, featured pets needing new homes and more directly in your inbox.