12 Simple Ways to Support Veterans on Veterans Day 2024 and Beyond

Help veterans in your home state by donating to a local organization that supplies veterans with things they and their families might need. National charities like the Bob Woodruff Foundation and Wounded Warriors Family Support are also great options to help give veterans and their families health- or economic-related support.

Invite a local veteran for a home-cooked meal or drop one off at their door. You can also offer to pick up their weekly groceries and deliver it directly to them.

We should be mindful of the correct way to display the American flag on any day, but Veterans Day is a time to make an extra effort. Practice proper etiquette in advance — and keep it flying well beyond November.

RELATED: The Rules to Flying an American Flag

This might not be something you can do today — depending on where you live — but you should plan to visit a war memorial on your next family road trip. At the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War 1 Memorial, World War II Memorial and Korean War Veterans Memorial, you can educate your kids about our country's history and give yourself a much-needed reminder about the sacrifices of others.

Donating time to a veteran's health and recovery is just as important as donating funds or household items. Show your appreciation by taking time to give veterans the care they deserve at your local VA hospital.

Making sure veterans are successful in their jobs is just as important as making sure that they are getting jobs. If a veteran in your area owns a small business, be sure to shop local today (and as much as you can!) to show them how much you appreciate their service — then and now.

Lots of popular spots — Starbucks and Dunkin' — offer free coffee to those who have served our country on Veterans Day. But you can also pick up a cup of coffee and drop it off at a local vet's house as a heartfelt gesture.

It might seem like the smallest of gestures compared to what they've done for us, but a hug goes a long way. Obviously, ask before you go in for one, and even if they decline, we're sure they'll appreciate the thought.

Veterans have first-person accounts of history. If they feel comfortable talking about their wartime experiences, ask them to share a memory with you — if they don't wish to talk about difficult topics, ask them about a favorite life memory. Listen intently so you can share their words — and celebrate their lives — for years to come.

Rake the leaves, clear the gutters, oil the squeaky doors, the list goes on. If you or a family member have any carpentry or general fixer-upper skills, offer your services to a veteran in need, especially if they can't do it themselves. If your skills are lacking, donate money or materials to Homes for our Troops, a nonprofit that builds custom-adapted homes for severely injured post-9/11 veterans.

Have your children write notes and slip them into your local veteran's mailbox. You can also sign up for a letter-writing or care package service like Operation Gratitude and Soldiers' Angels that connect families with men and women currently overseas.

Because veterans have stepped away from their families, friends, and lifestyles to make us safe. That kind of sacrifice deserves our deepest respect and most solemn gratitude on Veterans Day and beyond.