Tag Archives: sacrifice

Armed Forces Day + Ways to Thank a Veteran

16 Thursday May 2019

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Photo by Sharefaith on Pexels.com

If you were tasked with brainstorming symbols to characterize each month of the year, what would they be? January might be a party hat, February would be a traditional red heart, March could be best described as a tulip (buried under a foot of snow,) April might be a raincloud and May would be an American Flag.

The fifth month of the year is an especially patriotic time in the United States. At the end of the month, we’ll celebrate veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice on Memorial Day, but we have another chance to say “thank you for your service” before then.

This Saturday, May 18, is Armed Forces Day, a holiday that is always observed on the third Saturday in May. The holiday was created to help pay tribute to people of the Armed Forces. Unbeknownst to many, up until 1949, there were single day celebrations for each branch of the military. After the branches were unified under the Department of Defense, leaders thought it best to commemorate them all on one day.

For those of us who have never been involved in the military, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to imagine what time in the service must be like. Members of the military put their lives on the line to protect our freedom, so how do you genuinely say, “thank you?” The best way to get started is with a handshake, but we think we can go above and beyond when it comes to expressing our gratitude. We’ve compiled a few thank you ideas to begin the brainstorming process, with the help of Military.com:

  1. Donate your frequent flyer miles to the family of a veteran

    If you’re an avid traveler, consider donating those extra miles to a family in need. The Hero Miles Program gives airline tickets to wounded, injured and ill service members as well as their families who are undergoing treatment at a military or VA medical center. Learn how to donate your miles.

  2. Hire a veteran to speak at your next event

    To say a veteran learned a few valuable lessons during their time in the military would likely be an understatement. These individuals have incredible insight about leadership, team work and persistence. The next time you are looking for a speaker, bring in a veteran for the job.

  3. Shop from a veteran-owned business

    Did you know that over 2.5 million businesses in the United States are majority-owned by veterans? Choose to support these entrepreneurs by visiting their facilities or adding them to the supply chain of your company.

  4. Invite a veteran to join you and your club

Veterans have experience turning plans into actions, leading groups and brainstorming new and innovative ideas, and many want to get involved in local service work. They are just a natural fit into the Lions community. Invite a veteran to attend your next club meeting.

These are only four of an infinite number of thoughtful ways to say, “I am so grateful for your service.” How will you thank a veteran? Let us know in the comments below!

The Lions Pride Board and Staff would like to wish all military service members and their families a Happy Armed Forces Day!

 

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Involve a Veteran this Memorial Day

24 Thursday May 2018

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If we were to ask you what the most patriotic month of the year is, how would you respond? You’d probably say July; it’s a no-brainer. But what about the second most patriotic month? We’d say May.

This month, we’ve already celebrated Armed Forces Day on May 19, and Memorial Day is right around the corner. Veterans gave a major sacrifice when they chose to enlist, but often, their eagerness to make a difference does not end when they complete their term. Many look to get involved at a local level, which could make Lions the perfect fit.

Veterans have so much to offer to any organization. They have a strong sense of dedication and commitment, have a keen sense of leadership and know precisely what it means to be a part of a team. That’s why LCI created the Involve a Veteran Program. From now until June 30, 2018, qualifying veterans have the chance to join a Lions club with an entrance or charter fee waiver. Eligible veterans include Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard personnel as well as the Canadian Armed Forces who retired or were honorably-discharged from their service. National Guard and Reserve personnel who were called to active duty are also eligible.

When inviting veterans to join your Lions Club, consider trying one of these simple recruiting ideas:

  • Drop off brochures at your local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) clubs. You might be surprised to learn how many chapters exist in our state!
  • Exhibit at a local Veteran community event. Be sure to check out the Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs Events page and watch your local newspaper.
  • Use the press release template to attract local media attention.
  • Take the opportunity to thank Veterans on your social media pages. Memorial Day would be an excellent day to express your gratitude for their service – you never know who might stumble across your post.
  • Start a new project and invite Veterans to join in on the fun.

It’s not too late! Join the over 700 clubs that have taken advantage of the Involve a Veteran program and give veterans the opportunity to continue serving, as a Lion.

The Lions Pride Office will be closed on Monday, May 28, to honor those who bravely served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice. We’d like to wish you all a fun, safe holiday weekend!

Celebrate Veterans Day with Gratitude

09 Thursday Nov 2017

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“Honoring the sacrifices many have made for our country in the name of freedom is theWaving Flag very foundation of Veterans Day.” –Charles B. Rangel

This Saturday, we’ll have the opportunity to our nation’s living heroes in the 80th official Veterans Day. Originally known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day was created on November 11, 1919, on the first anniversary of the end of World War I. In 1926, Congress passed a resolution in 1926 for an annual observance and became a national holiday in 1938.

Unlike Memorial Day, Veterans Day pays tribute to all American veterans, who served on any branch of the US military during peacetime or war, living or dead, but especially giving thanks to all living veterans. The US Census Bureau estimates that there are currently over 21 million living veterans in the United States.

You’ve likely already seen lots of businesses celebrating the holiday with sales and specials, but may wonder the best way to celebrate the occasion. Here at Lions Pride, we feel the best way to recognize the holiday is with gratitude. Here are a few ideas on you could thank a veteran over the weekend:

  • Write a letter

Everyone loves mail! Well, maybe not direct mail, but we’d be willing to bet you greeted your last handwritten letter with a smile. This Veterans Day, thank a vet in the form of a letter. Operation Gratitude is on a mission to show our nation’s heroes how much we care about them. And nothing says more that more than a handwritten note that can be saved forever. Each year, the organization sends care packages and letters to veterans all over the county. Find out how you can start your first letter.

  • Visit a veterans nursing home

We think quite possibly the best way to thank someone is in person! Consider contacting your local veterans nursing home to see if there are any residents who may be longing for company. After all who doesn’t love a friendly visit?

  • Invite a veteran to join Lions

You can show your appreciation as a Lion by inviting a veteran to serve with your club and reconnect with their community. In July 2013, Lions Club International introduced the Involve a Veteran Program. From now until June 30, 2018, qualifying veterans will receive waived entrance and chartered fees when they join a Lions Club. Eligible veterans include all branches of the US military – Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard personnel who are retired or honorably discharged. The National Guard and Reserve personnel who were called to active duty for other training are also eligible. Learn more about the program.

These are only three of countless ways to thank a veteran for their sacrifice. How do you plan to celebrate Veterans Day?

To all of the men and women in uniform, past, present and future, God bless you and the Lions Pride Staff & Board want to thank you for your service.

Happy Veterans Day!

Honor Flight to Washington DC

25 Thursday May 2017

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Memorial Day may only Memorial Day Cemetarybe four days away, but a group of our state’s heroes has gotten a head start on the celebration.

Ninety Wisconsin veterans received the opportunity to fly to Washington DC on Sunday, May 19, with the Stars and Stripes Honor Flight. This flight was the second of three scheduled for the spring of 2017.

The group left Mitchell Airport early at 7 am to fill in a full day of site seeing. Upon arrival, our veterans visited the WWII Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Iwo Jima/Marine Corps Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Wall. The group also got to witness the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The heroes arrived back in Milwaukee at 9 pm that evening and were graciously welcomed home by family, friends and community members.

Although many of us may celebrate the holiday with a classic barbecue with loved ones, it’s important to remember the true meaning of the holiday.

As reminded by the SSHF, “Memorial Day isn’t a ‘thank you for your service day’ for our living veterans or active duty military. It’s a day to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and were denied the privilege of growing old.” Read the entire excerpt here.

It’s so easy to lose sight of the origin of Memorial Day, appreciating those who sacrificed themselves for our country and freedom. Consider spending some time on Monday, to visit a cemetery and saying “thank you” to our nation’s greatest heroes.

The Lions Pride Office will be closed on Monday, May 29 in observance of the holiday. We’d like to wish you and your family a safe and happy Memorial Day!

Practicing Moderation After the Season of Lent

05 Thursday Mar 2015

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Lent Sacrifices

We are three weeks into Lent; have you have given up something you love to observe this especially religious time of year?

Christians honor Lent as the season of conversion. They acknowledge the many different ways that may have turned them away from God by focusing on the three pillars: prayer, fasting and almsgiving. By giving something up, they are practicing a modern form of fasting.

In general, the sacrifices people give up are considered bad habits. A few of the most common sacrifices include chocolate, soda, fast food and smoking. We have an interesting thought, if you can give up something for 40 days, why do you have to go back to your old ways when Lent is over?

There’s an old myth that says it takes 21 days to form a habit. New studies show that habit-forming actually takes 66 days. If it’s true that 66 is the magic number, then you are more than halfway to the end goal! However, if the idea of giving up your guilty pleasure completely gives you nightmares, maybe it’s time to think about practicing moderation.

Consider this; say you stop at the coffeehouse five times a week on your way to work for an extra large latte. Not only are you consuming an average of 240 calories a day, but you are also spending nearly $4 a day and almost $20 a week on your morning pick-me-up. If you add that up for an entire year, you are spending close to $950. Yikes!

Rather than buying a Latte each day, think about brewing your own coffee at home and using your favorite flavored creamer four days a week then having a latte only day each week. Think about which day you’d like to reward yourself – maybe Friday to get an early start on the weekend or Monday to make that less-than-perfect day a little easier to manage. By reducing the number of lattes you consume each week from five to one, you are likely reducing your weekly calorie intake drastically as well as keeping more money in your wallet. By using our example, you would be saving about $821 each year.

What will you do with all of your savings? If it’s anything close to our scenario, you can do a lot! You could take a mini-vacation, splurge on something you normally wouldn’t or make your sacrifice even more special; make a difference by using those funds to support a charity like Lions Pride.

The Lions Pride Endowment Fund makes it easy with automatic payment options. One Pride Donor has said, “I have a $20 monthly donation coming out of my checking account every month, I don’t even miss it.” There are many ways you can donate to Lions Pride, click here to see all the options available.

By giving up something you care about during Lent, you are showing yourself just how much willpower you really have. Remember, you are more powerful than you think. Continued Success!