November 11, 2016 is Veterans Day and Above & Beyond is taking the time to honor local vets with a special Veterans Day pinning ceremony. We’re asking friends and families of some of the veterans we serve to make Veterans Day special. Here’s more information about the holiday formerly known as Armistice Day.
Veterans Day Pinning Ceremony Information
Our Veterans Day pinning ceremony is slightly different from many ceremonial events you will see recognized locally for a number of reasons:
- Private – Most of the ceremonies will be very private; taking place in the homes of the veteran(s) who served. We are asking their spouses, friends and family to attend if the veteran & their personal caregivers are inclined to share the moment.
- A Part of Our Life – The veterans we are honoring are a part of our life here at Above & Beyond. Whether they are a part of our caregiving services, hospice services, or other areas of service; they have allowed us to be a part of their life story.
- Continued Caring – The veterans we honor will remain a part of our life even after the honors have been given. We will continue to provide services to them for as long as they need or want these services. This may include caring for their families as a part of our grief counseling services.
We are honored to be able to take this time to honor the veterans we serve.
What We Want to Do for the Veterans We Honor
- Thank them for their service
- Hear their stories
- Allow their loved ones to share in the pride
- Let them feel & understand their sense of purpose & meaning to us and our country
Be a Part of Honoring Our Vets
This is a wonderful time to honor vets in our life. You can be an important part to honoring someone special to you too.
- Get Their Story – This is a wonderful time to get the stories of the vets you love. Utilize today’s easy technology to video them as they share stories of life (civilian & military). This essay, written by a vet, gives you some insight on how to talk to a vet.
- Document Their Life – Take the time to not only document information about time served but their entire life. Ask them about their fondest times while in service if they feel comfortable.
- Honor Them – You can honor them in a number of ways; including putting up a flag where they can see it regularly, creating a photo collage, or asking them if there is something they would like.
- Music – Put together some songs from the era of the senior vet you are honoring. If you can, create a CD with songs from their youth & service time.
- Photo Collage – Create a photo collage and/or time line that shows the veteran either during his days serving or from the earliest picture you can find, going up until the current day. Ask family and friends for pictures (this will take some planning ahead!)
However you decide to make Veterans Day 2016 special for a veteran you care about, make sure that they are willing to share information. Remember, many who have served in a war or have seen war may prefer to not talk about those days. You don’t have to focus on war time; but instead focus on veteran as a person.
Veterans Day Celebrations
Here are some ways you can join in already planned celebrations:
- Local VA – Call the Veterans Administration to see if they are having an open ceremony locally. The Iowa Veterans Affairs office website provides links to all 50 states also.
- Flights of Honor – Honor a Vet by donating to the Flights of Honor Program or getting them involved if they are eligible. Please note: We are not at all associated with this program & found it online.
- Monticello, IA Town Planner – Keep an eye out here in Monticello via the Town Planner online.
- Shop Veteran Owned Businesses – Here is a listing of Veteran Owned Businesses here in Monticello, IA that can be useful all year long.
We Are Honored to Serve Veterans
Above and Beyond has a number of ways that we can be of service to a veteran in your life. We are very grateful for all of those veterans who are allowing us to honor them at this year’s Veterans Day Pinning.
