Veterans Day is coming up this week! With many in-person events cancelled this year, the Bomber team has been brainstorming ways to show your support for the men and women of the Armed Forces.

Wherever Veterans Day may take you this year, we hope you'll honor the veterans in your community with some of these ideas! 

How To Support Veterans In My Community

1. Support a veteran-serving organization in your hometown.

Most American cities have nonprofit organizations devoted solely to supporting veterans. One of the best ways to serve veterans in your community is to make a donation to one of these organizations. Some possible suggestions include your local USO branch, a local animal rescue that connects veterans with support dogs, or your local VA hospital. 

2. Ask a veteran about their service.

If you have a veteran in your family or your neighborhood, you can show your support by asking respectful questions about their service. Take your friend or family member out for lunch or coffee, and ask about where they served, who they served with, and the lessons they learned along the way. 

3. Show your respect by flying the flag. 

On Veterans Day, an easy way to show your support is by flying the American flag. However, with home flags, it can be very easy to mistake the rules in the U.S. Flag Code. Before flying your Veterans Day flag, brush up on the U.S. Flag Code here to make sure you're showing your respect.

4. Attend a virtual Veterans Day celebration. 

Many in-person events like parades and cookouts have been cancelled this year, but there are still events and ceremonies happening online. Consider attending a virtual fundraiser or honor ceremony with your family. If you work from home, suggest a moment of silence at the beginning of your Zoom calls to honor veterans. 

5. Make "Thank You" cards with your kids. 

This is a great way to get the younger generations involved with honoring Veterans Day. Spend an afternoon making handmade "Thank You" cards for veterans. Mail these to servicemembers deployed overseas, or donate the  cards to your local USO or VA hospital to be handed out to veterans. (And of course, if you know veterans in your neighborhood, hand-delivering your gifts is a great way to show your thanks!)

6. Volunteer at a VA Hospital. 

VA hospitals, designed specifically to serve veterans of the US Armed Forces, often struggle with funding and staffing. Show your support by offering to volunteer for the day, or by spending the day with a patient who is excited for visitors. Many VA hospitals celebrate Veterans Day with a special luncheon or dinner, so there is often plenty of work to go around for volunteers! 

7. Create care packages for deployed servicemembers. 

Stock shoeboxes with candy, snacks, and knick-knacks that remind deployed servicemembers of home. You can ship these yourself to servicemembers you know, or donate your homemade boxes to your local veterans' organization to have them handed out on your behalf. While you're at it, throw in a pair of Bomber shades or safety glasses -- our gear is EXTREMELY useful for active-duty servicemembers! 

8. Say, "Thank you for your service."

This one's simple, but effective. Everywhere you go on Veterans Day (and every day), if you see a servicemember in uniform, offer them a smile and a heartfelt, "Thank you for your service." It may not be much, but these thanks go a long way. 

At Bomber Eyewear, we've built our business with support from our community. We wouldn't be where we are today without you, and this Veterans Day, we'd like to offer our heartfelt thanks to the men and women who serve our country. 

P.S. Don't forget about our Civil Service Discount! Active duty military, law enforcement, fire and rescue, first responders, lifeguards, and teachers receive 50% off all Bomber products. Just verify your email through our portal to get your custom code!