thank you veterans essay

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Letters of Gratitude: Letters to Veterans

To my husband, my Marine, I never truly understood freedom until we met 10 years ago. You opened my eyes to military life. Our love was formed over written letters in boot camp; short, interrupted, dropped phone calls from a satellite phone when you were in Afghanistan, and learning each other all over again after each Homecoming.   I'm thankful for the man you are. The man who risked everything for a country of people, many of whom won't ever know your name.   Forever I will be grateful. Forever I will feel blessed to know you, to love you and to support you.   I love you, my husband, my Marine.   Xoxoxoxo Amy Lor

Dear Veteran, Thank you for your service. Please know that you are appreciated and recognized as someone who helped protect our freedom. Thanks again from a grateful American!

Dear Veteran,  Thank you for your service. You have given our country your life, time, energy and love. You are an honorable person and thank you doesn't seem enough to say I appreciate your service. Thank you again and always. God Bless you and your family. You are in my heart and I pray for you each and every day. Please remember YOU ARE LOVED. 

HUGS, a Friend. 

Dear Colonel (Angus), Thank you so much for all you did for our country while you were deployed. I know this was a huge sacrifice. Even though we were not together at that time, I greatly appreciate all you have done to serve. I'm so grateful you are here with me now! Love you to smithereens! Loren

Thank you for your service in the military. You are a courageous hero and very much appreciated. I wish you comfort, happiness, contentment and many moments filled with joy. Best Regards, a thankful U.S.A. Citizen.

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Thank you for all you have done to serve our country.  It is very much appreciated. My Dad was in World War II and thinks about those times often.  I hope you have a long, full life ahead of you with much happiness. Thank you again.

Thank you and your family for your service and sacrifice.

Hi, I'm not sure who I'm supposed to address this to so I will address it to all the veterans. I just wanted you to know how much my family and I appreciate all the sacrifices and bravery you have given up to protect our country and freedom. Without your bravery and sacrifices we would not have our safe and sound lives or our great United States of America so I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your service's and fighting for our country. You do and always will have my respect and will be forever my hero and in my thoughts, my heart and in my prayers. Again thank you for what you have given up to keep us safe and free. Sincerely yours Joy B. Your forever fan

Thank you for your service! My family comes from a military background  and I truly appreciate all of the sacrifice you and your family have made for our country. Please know that we are grateful. God bless! 

Dear Poppy, Without your service in the army, I wouldn't be here writing this letter to you right now. Freedom can be taken for granted but it is one of the most important things in the world. Thank you Love, Sawyer Severance

Dear Veterans, Thank you for serving before. People do not give you enough credit for fighting and giving your lives so we can have freedom. I know what it is like because my grandfather fought in the war. Thank you for serving.

Thank you for your service. You have been a wonderful asset to our country. 

Thank you so much for your service. As a wife and mother of former Marines, I understand and appreciate your patriotism, dedication, and willingness to sacrifice everything for all Americans. God bless you and your family always!!!!

Hello, I'm taking the chance to send this note to you to say thank you for dedication to serving in the military. I think it is very honorable to step up and offer yourself in that way. I have family members who have served and my company also provides medical equipment to veterans. I know there are many veterans who have ongoing medical needs and it is not easy for some. I think sometimes it's just about feeling like someone takes the time to stop and say they care. So that was my goal. I hope this note let's you know someone is thinking of you.

For my Dad... You were on continuous deployment nearly your entire 22 year career. I never knew where you went, how long you were going to be gone or why you had to leave. But running down the gate at the airport when you came home...that was the best feeling in the world. You don't know this...but everyday I thank you. For keeping us safe. For keeping your promise to our beautiful country. And for always, always...coming home. I love you. Melissa S.

To all those who have served, there are not enough words of gratitude. As the mother of two veteran sons, I feel very blessed to have them both safely home. All of you veterans, and all of you still serving make me so proud to be an American!! Thank you all, and God bless you and your families. Mary Ann Frey Brooklyn, Ohio

Dear Veteran, I have no idea the journey you have traversed - whether good or bad. My hope is that all that may have been "bad" is now good. And that all the good that God grants through His grace is supplied to you in a myriad of ways - every single day. Life is sometimes inexplicable & sometimes hard days seem endless while good days fly past us. I pray that your life is filled with overwhelming joy - for what you have sown in service to our Nation, is selfless and eternal - and may you reap in abundance of hope, love, joy and strength. "Thank you" almost seems cliche as it could never be enough to esteem the gratitude towards your service. Nonetheless, thank you. With all my heart, N.J. ----------

Dear Veteran, I thank you very much for your service and sacrifice to defend our nation. You have allowed this country to continue to enjoy the freedoms and privileges that are so very often taken for granted. I work with an organization that does its very best to take care of individuals like you who have taken such wonderful care of us when needed. Please remember that you are supported and loved by a grateful nation. Loyally, D.M.

Dear Veteran, Thank you for serving the men, women and children of the United States of America. The sacrifices you have made cannot be summed up in this letter, but I hope in some way I am able to convey my gratitude. As a mother of four, I raised my children to learn about and acknowledge the bravery and commitment of service members like yourself, who have kept our country free. That is how I have tried to honor those who have served such as yourself. My oldest son will soon be signing up to serve and he does so proudly following in the footsteps of yourself and so many others. May God bless you always. Warm regards, M.G.

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The Military Wife and Mom

Parenting and motherhood in the midst of military life

85 Most Inspiring Veteran Quotes to Say “Thank You for Your Service”

Veteran quotes are the perfect way to  thank a veteran  and convey a message when you’re not quite sure what to say on Veterans Day. 

To the average civilian, this act of gratitude might not seem important. But to our service members, it means  everything . I think most veterans would affirm this directly.

You may even want to include a  motivational military quote  or  unique military gift  with one of these quotes below. 

Or you can  teach your kids to thank a veteran  and include a quote with it too. 

This list is carefully curated by a military family gathering quotes over the years from active duty service members, retired veterans and other military families.

Veterans Day Thank You Quotes to Show Gratitude and Honor Service Members.

1. “Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.” — Harry Truman

2. “America without her Soldiers would be like God without His angels.” — Claudia Pemberton

3. “The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.” – Jeff Miller

4. “The veterans of our military services have put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms that we enjoy. They have dedicated their lives to their country and deserve to be recognized for their commitment.” – Judd Gregg

5. “I respect every soldier, from every country, who serves beside us in the hard work of history. America is grateful, and America will not forget.” – George W. Bush

6. “While we can never do enough to show gratitude to our nation’s defenders, we can always do a little more.” — Gary Sinise

7. “Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world. A veteran doesn’t have that problem.” — Ronald Reagan

8. “Without heroes, we are all plain people. And don’t know how far we can go.” — Bernard Malamud

9. “If there is only one word to describe a military veteran, it would be ‘sacrifice.'” – Unknown

10. “On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free.” — Dan Lipinski

11. “Heroes don’t wear capes or tights, they wear dog tags and combat boots.” — Unknown

12. “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.” — Cynthia Ozick

13. “This country has not seen and probably will never know the true level of sacrifice of our veterans.” — Thomas M. Smith

14. “And the truth is that all veterans pay with their lives. Some pay all at once, while others pay over a lifetime.” J.M. Storm

15. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy

16. ”Heroism doesn’t always happen in a burst of glory. Sometimes small triumphs and large hearts change the course of history.”- Mary Roach

17. “A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.” -Joseph Campbell

18. “My heroes are those who risk their lives every day to protect our world and make it a better place — police, firefighters, and members of our armed forces.” — Sidney Sheldon

18. “May the flag wave boldly with its vibrant hues…honoring veterans like you, with the beautiful red, white and blue!” – Unknown

20. “A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” — Bob Dylan

21. “We sleep peaceably in our beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on our behalf.”- George Orwell

22. “Never was so much owed by so many to so few” –Winston Churchill

23. “Honoring the sacrifices many have made for our country in the name of freedom and democracy is the very foundation of Veterans Day.” — Charles B. Rangel

24. “America’s veterans embody the ideals upon which America was founded more than 229 years ago.” — Steve Buyer

25. “While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honoring our veterans, Americans must never forget the sacrifices that many of our fellow countrymen have made to defend our country and protect our freedoms.” -Randy Neugebauer

Veteran Quotes on Courage and Bravery. 

26. “America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination, and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” – Harry Truman

27. “Soldiers, when committed to a task, can’t compromise. It’s unrelenting devotion to the standards of duty and courage, absolute loyalty to others, not letting the task go until it’s been done.” — John Keegan

28. “Some people dream the dream. Some people live the dream. Some people defend the dream. God bless the defenders.” — Unknown

29. “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve all others at whatever cost.” — Arthur Ashe

30. “We will not tire, we will not falter, we will not fail.” — George W. Bush

31. “Americans never quit. We never surrender. We never hide from history. We make history.” – John McCain

32. “If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

33. “To command is to serve, nothing more and nothing less.” – Andre Malraux

34. “Those who stand for nothing fall for anything.” – Alexander Hamilton

35. “Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared to death.” — Gen. Omar Bradley

36. ”Whoever said the pen is mightier than the sword obviously never encountered automatic weapons.” – Douglas MacArthur

37. “The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” — Douglas MacArthur

38. ”No guts, no glory.” –Major Gen. Frederick C. Blesse

39. “Cowards die many times before their deaths; the valiant never taste death but once.” – William Shakespeare

40. “What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight—it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”- President Dwight D. Eisenhower

41. “Soldiers can sometimes make decisions that are smarter than the orders they have been given.” – Orson Scott Card, Enders Game

42. “I am not afraid of an Army of lions lead by a sheep; I am afraid of sheep lead by a lion.” – Alexander the Great

43. “The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.” — Minot J. Savage

44. “Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid.” – Colonel David Hackworth

45. “Brave men rejoice in adversity, just as brave soldiers triumph in war.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca

46. “If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.” – John Quincy Adams

47. “Perfect valor is to behave without witnesses, as one would act were all the world watching.” — Francois de le Rochefoucauld

48. “Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.” — Michel de Montaigne

49. “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” — Abraham Lincoln

50. “The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” — G.K. Chesterton

51. “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear—not absence of fear.” — Mark Twain

52. Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened.” — Billy Graham

53. “In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.” — José Narosky

54. “Regard your soldiers as your children, and they will follow you into the deepest valleys. Look on them as your own beloved sons, and they will stand by you even unto death!” –Sun Tzu

Veterans Day Quotes on Freedom, Liberty and Patriotism.

55. “Patriotism is easy to understand in America. It means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.” – Calvin Coolidge

56. “Freedom is one of the deepest and noblest aspirations of the human spirit.” – Ronald Reagan

57. “Freedom is never free.” – Anonymous

58. “Freedom lies in being bold.” – Robert Frost

59. “This will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.” – Elmer Davis

60. “A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” — Bob Dylan

67. “From time to time, the tree of liberty must be watered with the blood of tyrants and patriots.” ― Thomas Jefferson

68. “Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as best he can, the same cause.” — Abraham Lincoln

69. “One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one nation evermore!” – Oliver Wendell Holmes

70. “My patriotic heart beats red, white, and blue.” (Author unknown)

71. “Home of the free because of the brave.” — Unknown

72. “Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” – Unknown

73. “The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude.” — Jeff Miller

74. “I think there is one higher office than the president, and I would call that patriot.” — Gary Hart

75. “Damn the wars but bless the soldier.” — T.L. Moffitt

76. “Spending time with America’s soldiers is always inspiring.” — John Boehner

77. “America’s veterans have served their country with the belief that democracy and freedom are ideals to be upheld around the world.” — John Doolittle

78. “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!” — Maya Angelou

79. “Better than honor and glory, and History’s iron pen, Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men.” — Richard Watson Gilder

80. “There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” — Alexander Hamilton

81. “The patriot’s blood is the seed of freedom’s tree.” —Thomas Campbell

More quotes from American presidents.

82. “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the Veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation.” — President George Washington

83. “To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with lots of pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations.” — President Woodrow Wilson

84. “It’s about how we treat our veterans every single day of the year. It’s about making sure they have the care they need and the benefits that they’ve earned when they come home. It’s about serving all of you as well as you’ve served the United States of America.” — President Barack Obama

85. “We remember those who were called upon to give all a person can give, and we remember those who were prepared to make that sacrifice if it were demanded of them in the line of duty, though it never was. Most of all, we remember the devotion and gallantry with which all of them ennobled their nation as they became champions of a noble cause.” — President Ronald Reagan

Want more on thanking and honoring veterans?

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About Lauren Tamm

I'm Lauren, a military spouse and Language of Listening® master parent coach. I write about my crazy parenting adventures, discovering happiness in motherhood and navigating the ups and downs of military life. I spend my days re-heating coffee while chasing my kids around the house. Hang around for a bit and join the fun!

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Essay: Veterans deserve a huge thank you

A huge shout out to our veterans. Thanks for your service to this country.

To begin with, I’m not a veteran. But I am the person I am today because of them. My Uncle Bob, one of the four “Fightin” Van Slyke brothers from Little Falls, was my role model growing up.

Along with several friends, the star basketball player and scholar forwent his senior year to enlist in the Army Air Corps. Between 1944 and early 1945, he flew 41 missions as a Navigator-Bombardier in a B-26 Marauder with the 454th Bomb Squadron.

At 20, 1st Lieutenant Van Slyke returned home with a Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with seven clusters pinned to his uniform. After finishing high school, he went on to graduate from St. Lawrence University and became a coach, math teacher and high school principal in Liberty, New York. My cousins and I wanted to be just like our hero uncle whose inspiration motivated us all to become successes in life.

Then, in October of 1979, I met Ed Juteau Jr. Stationed in Vietnam for a tour and a half with the Air Force, he returned home hoping to live a long, happy life with Kay and Robbie. Sadly, that dream was shattered when he learned that he had contracted a terminal case of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He was 31.

We first met when he visited the Hill (Herkimer County Community College) to address my classes on the topic of Agent Orange, the toxic defoliant dumped to the tune of over 96 million pounds on the countryside purportedly to destroy the enemy’s cover but instead killing and sickening thousands of our troops. His first words, “I was killed in Vietnam only it’s taken this long for me to die,” left us spellbound; his impact so profound that the kids and I formed Save-A-Vet, a veterans’ rights advocacy organization, and joined his  Agent Orange Victims International.

The late HCCC  Prof. Gary Ruff and Dennis Thorp carried Ed to his final speaking engagement at Utica College in January of 1980.  Fighting to the end, he passed that February 3rd. Ed was the bravest man I’ve ever known and, along with Marine SSgt. Stash Zawtocki, inspired me to advocate on behalf of combat veterans until today.

Dennis Thorp and Ron Schoonmaker were medics in Vietnam. Den was Eddie J’s right-hand man. A medic with the Rangers (First Field Forces), he saw more than what can be imagined. I’ve always felt that combat medics never received the recognition they deserved. Blood, guts, death day in, day out — little wonder so many have suffered and continue to suffer from PTSD — their appeals for help too often disregarded by our Uncle Sam.

After Ed’s death, he continued serving his country, active for decades with the New Hartford American Legion and presently the Regional Service Officer for the VFW. I’ll never forget April 27th, 1987 when Den, and fellow combat vets Dave Davis, John Frazier Jr. and Joe Maline, walked point along Rte. 5 with a hundred of my Veterans-Rights-Coalition students and myself as we marched eight miles from the HCCC campus to Eastern Park in Little Falls to protest cuts in the VA budget.

Like “Colonel” D., Ron Schoonmaker has been serving his country ever since he was mustered out. The medic with the Army’s 8th Medical Brigade performed his duty in a field hospital — sights seen there etched forever into the fabric of his mind. In addition to being a director of the Herkimer County Hunger Coalition, he’s spearheaded the effort to place flags in Herkimer’s cemeteries around Memorial Day and presently serves as Deputy Mayor for the village of Ilion. I owe the last decade of my involvement with the coalition to these two heroes who never failed to pick me up when I was down.

To reiterate what I wrote at the outset — a huge thank you to our veterans — many of whom, like Uncle Bob, Eddie J., and the “Docs” Dennis and Ron, continued serving their country in numerous capacities. In the process, you helped shape positively the lives of countless people, including myself.

Finally, God bless Joe Vespasiano and all of his WWII band of brothers — never have so few done so much for so many.

Ray Lenarcic is professor emeritus of history at Herkimer College, founder of the Herkimer County Hunger Coalition, Veterans Memorial Park on the HCCC campus and Fallen Stars Memorial Project. 

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8 Ways to Say 'Thank You Veterans' on Veterans Day

Veterans Day is an important day to "thank you veterans" as we show appreciation to members of our military, past and present.

If you're looking for an appropriate way to honor a veteran in your life, or would like to contribute in a way that's meaningful for veterans everywhere, here's a list of suggestions to start you off.

1. Say "Thank You Veterans" by Showing Up

Attend a Veterans Day event in your area -- not just a picnic with friends but an honest-to-goodness parade or service for veterans. Roy Rogers said, "We can't all be heroes; someone has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by." Veterans Day is a great opportunity to do just that.

2. Donate to Veteran-Focused Charities

There are a plethora of wonderful organizations that offer all manner of support, services and appreciation for our service members. To get a few ideas for veteran donations, check out these wounded veteran charities that have been impact .

3. Fly a Flag - Correctly

Veterans Day is a great opportunity to fly the flag. Just make sure you're observing the proper rules for display.  Here are a few of those important tips:

• Never drag a U.S. flag on the ground or let it touch the ground.
• Don't drape it over the hood, top, sides or back of a vehicle.
• Don't display the U.S. flag above any other flag, and keep it at the center when it's surrounded by other flags. 
• Don't display a tattered or torn flag. Flags that are tattered and torn should be disposed of in a respectful way, preferrably by burning. 
• Never use the flag as apparel, bedding or drapery.

See more tips at  Military.com's guide to the flag .

4. Ask Someone About Their Service

It seems like we all know someone who has served, and Veterans Day is a great time to ask them about their service. Learning more about their service can help you appropriately say "thank you."

Questions to ask a veteran

Here are some questions to get you started:

• What did you do in the military?
• How long did you serve?
• What was your favorite moment in all your time in the service?
• Did anyone else in your family serve?
• Why did you go into the service branch you did?

Do not ask whether they've killed anyone, and should your veteran be a combat vet who is either unwilling to share or plainly states what they went through, be supportive without being intrusive. Sometimes you don't have to say anything; just listen and give them your full attention.

5. Write a letter to say "thank you veterans"

If you know a veteran, write a simple letter, postcard or email that recognizes them on Veterans Day. If you don't know a veteran, look up the closest military installation and send one there. Small acts of recognizing someone's service, even anonymously, are appreciated.

The military-focused nonprofit Soldiers' Angels organizes volunteers to write letters to deployed troops, veterans and their caregivers through their Letter Writing Virtual Team. Learn how to join that group on the Soldiers' Angels website .

6. Don't Confuse Veterans Day with Memorial Day

Veterans Day is a time to thank those who are serving or have served and are still with us. Memorial Day is to reflect and remember those who lost their lives in service to their country. Confusing the two or combining the two diminishes the importance of both. 

Learn more about Memorial Day vs. Veterans Day.

7. Visit a VA Hospital

Find out what the policies are at your nearest VA hospital for interacting with patients or volunteering, and spend the day with a veteran. Many VA facilities will have events on Veterans Day or a special lunch you can help prepare. Even if you never interact with a veteran, helping at a facility is a way to give back and saying "thank you veterans."

8. Get Outdoors with a Veteran

Invite a veteran or a military family to explore a national park; admission is free for all visitors on Veterans Day. Being outside helps improve physical and mental health, boosts emotional well-being and is a great way to celebrate the day with a veteran.

Veterans Day Features on Military.com

Veterans Day Discounts and Freebies

Celebrity Veteran Profiles

Profiles in Courage: 5 Medal of Honor Recipients

Stay On Top of Your Veteran Benefits

Military benefits are always changing -- keep up with everything from pay to health care by signing up for a free Military.com membership , which will send all the latest benefits straight to your inbox, as well as give you access to up-to-date pay charts and more.

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Gratitude to Military: Thank You for Your Service Essay

There is an ambiguous position on whether a veteran or service member should be thanked for their service to the country. On the one hand, the phrase “Thank You for your service!” expresses recognition and causes pride for this activity. On the other hand, such a phrase can cause embarrassment. Mercurio notes that it can be interpreted as a prescriptive norm that often evokes feelings of confusion, objectification, impostor syndrome, and even resentment.

In my opinion, the military profession is one of the most dangerous and significant, and not every person can cope with the tasks assigned to such employees. Military personnel who are doing their duty to the state should feel very grateful for what they are doing. In this regard, expressing gratitude to the military is an appropriate phrase. This idea can be supported by the concept of verstehen, which refers to the expression of empathy for people’s actions. Doubek rightly pointed out that the military can remember negative memories associated with the service. However, it is an integral part of the military profession, the result of which is protecting the population. Thus, the words of thanks intend to recognize the selfless service that many veterans and service members have brought.

Works Cited

Doubek, James. Don’t Say ‘Thank You For Your Service’ This Monday. Npr, 2017, Web.

Mercurio, Nicholas J. “Beyond “Thank You”: Recommended Modalities for Meaningful Civilian-Military Discourse.” Journal of Veterans Studies, vol. 4, no. 2, 2019, pp. 1-33.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, April 27). Gratitude to Military: Thank You for Your Service. https://ivypanda.com/essays/gratitude-to-military-thank-you-for-your-service/

"Gratitude to Military: Thank You for Your Service." IvyPanda , 27 Apr. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/gratitude-to-military-thank-you-for-your-service/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'Gratitude to Military: Thank You for Your Service'. 27 April.

IvyPanda . 2023. "Gratitude to Military: Thank You for Your Service." April 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/gratitude-to-military-thank-you-for-your-service/.

1. IvyPanda . "Gratitude to Military: Thank You for Your Service." April 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/gratitude-to-military-thank-you-for-your-service/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Gratitude to Military: Thank You for Your Service." April 27, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/gratitude-to-military-thank-you-for-your-service/.

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45 Veterans Day quotes to say 'thank you' to those who have served

Veterans Day is commemorated annually on Nov. 11 and honors Americans who have served in the military and the sacrifices they've made in service to their country.

This year, the federal holiday falls on Saturday, Nov. 11. As is customary, financial institutions like banks , as well as government offices like the USPS will be closed in observance of the day.

The commemoration first began in 1919, when President Woodrow Wilson set Nov. 11 aside to recognize the end of World War I along with those who served in the years-long conflict , declaring it "Armistice Day."

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory," Wilson proclaimed.

Seven years later, in 1926, Congress passed a resolution, designating November 11 as an official holiday .

It wasn't until 1954, however, that at the urging of veterans and those who'd fought in World War II and the Korean War , Congress amended the holiday by removing the word "Armistice" and replacing it with "Veterans" in order to recognize those who served their country in all wars.

Since then, Nov. 11 has been recognized as a federal holiday and is typically commemorated with parades and various services across the U.S. to pay tribute to those who’ve served, as well as to remember the fallen.

In honor of Veterans Day, we've collected these meaningful quotes for you to share and use to say "thank you for your service."

• “May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please but as the opportunity to do what is right.” — Peter Marshall
• “One flag, one land, one heart, one hand, one Nation, evermore!” — Oliver Wendell Holmes
• "A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." — Christopher Reeve
• “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” — John F. Kennedy
• “We’re blessed with the opportunity to stand for something — for liberty and freedom and fairness. And these are things worth fighting for, worth devoting our lives to. And we have good reason to be hopeful and optimistic.” — Ronald Reagan

• “America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand.” — Harry Truman
• “Courage is more exhilarating than fear and in the long run it is easier. We do not have to become heroes overnight. Just one step at a time, meeting each thing that comes up, seeing it is not as dreadful as it appeared, discovering we have the strength to stare it down.” — Eleanor Roosevelt
• “Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will be America’s heart, her benedictions and her prayers be.” — John Quincy Adams
• “Humanity has won its battle. Liberty now has a country.” — Marquis de Lafayette
• “Patriotism consists not in waving the flag, but in striving that our country shall be righteous as well as strong.” — James Bryce

• “Where liberty dwells, there is my country." — Benjamin Franklin
• “If the only prayer you said was ‘thank you,’ that would be enough.” ― Meister Eckhart
• "Scared is what you're feeling. Brave is what you're doing." ― Emma Donaghue
• "Duty, honor, country: Those three hallowed words reverently dictate what you ought to be, what you can be, what you will be.” — General Douglas MacArthur
• "And we must never forget that it is the mighty arm of the American warrior — never bending, never breaking, never yielding — generation after generation that secured for us the blessings of a nation that still stands today as the beacon of liberty, democracy, and justice around the world." — Joe Biden

• “Brave men rejoice in adversity, just as brave soldiers triumph in war.” — Lucius Annaeus Seneca
• “The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.” — General Douglas MacArthur
• “There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty, that makes human nature rise above itself, in acts of bravery and heroism.” — Alexander Hamilton
• “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.” — General George S. Patton Jr.
• “It takes a hero to be one of those men who goes into battle.” — General Norman Schwarzkopf

• “Brave men are all vertebrates; they have their softness on the surface and their toughness in the middle.” — Gilbert K. Chesterton
• “The valor and courage of our young women and men in the armed services are a shining example to all of the world, and we owe them and their families our deepest respect.” — Bill Frist
• “True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.” — Arthur Ashe
• “Soldiers, when committed to a task, can’t compromise. It’s unrelenting devotion to the standards of duty and courage, absolute loyalty to others, not letting the task go until it’s been done.” — John Keegan
• “Honoring the sacrifices many have made for our country in the name of freedom and democracy is the very foundation of Veterans Day.” — Charles B. Rangel

• “Without heroes, we are all plain people, and don’t know how far we can go.” — Bernard Malamud
• “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” — Abraham Lincoln
• “Better than honor and glory, and History’s iron pen, Was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men.” — Richard Watson Gilder
• “On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave no soldier behind. As a nation, let it be our pledge that when they return home, we leave no veteran behind.” — Dan Lipinski
• “If a man hasn’t discovered something that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” — Martin Luther King Jr.
• “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.” — Nathan Hale

• “Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” — Winston Churchill
• “America without her soldiers would be like God without his angels.” — Claudia Pemberton
• “Better than honor and glory, and History’s iron pen, was the thought of duty done and the love of his fellow-men.” — Richard Watson Gilder
• “This country has not seen and probably will never know the true level of sacrifice of our veterans.” — Thomas M. Smith
• “Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form or a readiness to die.” — G.K. Chesterton
• “Fortune favors the brave.” — Terence,
• “This will remain the land of the free so long as it is the home of the brave.” — Elmer Davis
• “When the will defies fear, when duty throws the gauntlet down to fate, when honor scorns to compromise with death — that is heroism.” — Robert Green Ingersoll

• “These fallen heroes represent the character of a nation who has a long history of patriotism and honor—and a nation who has fought many battles to keep our country free from threats of terror.” —Michael N. Castle
• “There is nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.” — General Jimmy Doolittle
• “On thy grave the rain shall fall from the eyes of a mighty nation!” — Thomas William Parsons
• “The patriot’s blood is the seed of freedom’s tree.” — Thomas Campbell
• “Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared to death.” — General Omar Bradley
• “Whenever the world makes you cynical; whenever you seek true humility, and true selflessness — look to a veteran.” — Barack Obama

Some things to keep in mind

• Why veterans struggle to share their stories with their kids
• Stop saying these 4 things to military spouses, right now
• Veterans face another barrier to mental health care: Finding a therapist who gets their trauma

Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer based in New York City. She covers home & lifestyle topics for a variety of digital publications. Her debut novel is due out later this year and she’s at work on her second.

Sarah is a lifestyle and entertainment reporter for TODAY who covers holidays, celebrities and everything in between.

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Veterans Day ,

70+ Inspiring Quotes to Say ‘Thank You’ to Veterans and Their Service

November 14, 2023, 4:27 am 2.9k Views 0 Comments

Veterans Day is coming up this Nov 11th, 2023 (Saturday) . This is the day to recall the sacrifices and hard fights that led to today’s freedom. In fact, this is the day to observe more heartily, more enthusiastically.

Here we bring 70+ Thank you veterans quotes. Let’s show your love to military Veterans and soldiers who defended the land in 1918.

Table of Contents

Veterans Day Quotes from Presidents and Notable Figures

The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation. – George Washington

As the first President of the United States and a veteran himself, Washington emphasizes the importance of how a nation treats its veterans, suggesting that the future willingness to serve is heavily influenced by the respect and honor given to past veterans.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. – John F. Kennedy

Kennedy , known for his inspirational leadership, stresses the importance of action over words in expressing gratitude, encouraging us to show our appreciation for veterans through our deeds and the way we live our lives.

Some people live an entire lifetime and wonder if they have ever made a difference in the world. A veteran does not have that problem. – Ronald Reagan

Reagan acknowledges the significant impact and difference veterans have made in the world, reminding us of the unique and important role they play in shaping history and safeguarding freedom.

Our veterans accepted the responsibility to defend America and uphold our values when duty called. – Bill Shuster

Shuster recognizes the commitment and responsibility embraced by veterans, highlighting the values they uphold and the sacrifices they make in the defense of American ideals.

Honor to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country’s cause. Honor, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause. – Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln honors not only those who serve in the military but also the citizens who support them, underscoring the collective effort and sacrifice in serving a nation’s cause.

History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid. – Dwight D. Eisenhower

Eisenhower, a five-star general and later President, speaks to the resilience and courage required to protect freedom, paying tribute to the strength and determination of veterans.

Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices. – Harry S. Truman

Truman, a veteran of World War I, acknowledges the immense debt owed to those who serve, emphasizing that the sacrifices made by veterans are a cornerstone of American freedom.

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Roosevelt, leading the nation through World War II, reminds us of the sacrifices made for the freedoms we often take for granted, encouraging reflection on the cost of these liberties.

A man who is good enough to shed his blood for his country is good enough to be given a square deal afterwards. – Theodore Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt, a veteran of the Spanish-American War, advocates for the proper treatment and recognition of those who have served, speaking to the fairness and respect owed to veterans.

Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. – Winston Churchill

Churchill , the British Prime Minister during WWII, famously acknowledges the extraordinary contributions of the few (the Royal Air Force) in the face of overwhelming odds, becoming synonymous with the valor and sacrifice of military service.

Freedom is never free. – Author Unknown

This quote succinctly captures the essence of military sacrifice. It reminds us that the freedoms we enjoy come at a cost, often paid by the bravery and sacrifices of our veterans.

The patriot’s blood is the seed of Freedom’s tree. – Thomas Campbell

Thomas Campbell, a Scottish poet, highlights the ultimate sacrifice made by patriots for the nation’s freedom. This quote is a poignant reminder of the legacy left by veterans.

Bravery is being the only one who knows you’re afraid. – Colonel David Hackworth

Colonel Hackworth, one of America’s most decorated soldiers, speaks to the courage of facing fear head-on, a quality exemplified by veterans.

In valor there is hope. – Publius Cornelius Tacitus

Tacitus, a Roman historian, suggests that hope for a better future is often anchored in the valor displayed by soldiers, a sentiment that resonates deeply on Veterans Day.

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. – Joseph Campbell

Campbell, an American mythologist, writer, and lecturer, defines heroism in terms of self-sacrifice for a greater cause, a fitting tribute to veterans.

The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war. – Douglas MacArthur

General MacArthur, a prominent figure in American military history, highlights the soldier’s unique perspective on the value of peace.

We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us. – Winston S. Churchill

Churchill’s words acknowledge the often unseen sacrifices made by soldiers to ensure national security and peace.

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave. – Elmer Davis

Elmer Davis, a news reporter, and author, ties the concept of freedom directly to the bravery of those who defend it, like our veterans.

The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example. – Benjamin Disraeli

Disraeli, a British statesman, and novelist, speaks to the enduring impact of heroes, which veterans undoubtedly are, through their examples of courage and sacrifice.

To command is to serve, nothing more and nothing less. – Andre Malraux

Malraux, a French novelist, conveys the essence of leadership in the military, where service and command are deeply intertwined.

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. – Billy Graham

Billy Graham, an influential American evangelist, speaks to the inspirational power of courage, a quality abundantly found in veterans.

The only war is the war you fought in. Every veteran knows that. – Allan Keller

Keller’s words reflect the deeply personal nature of military service and the unique experiences of each veteran.

A soldier doesn’t fight because he hates what is in front of him. He fights because he loves what he left behind. – Author Unknown

This quote emphasizes the motivation behind a soldier’s duty – love for their country and the people they protect.

Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with. – Brodi Ashton, “Everneath”

Ashton, an author, highlights that heroism is a result of choices and actions, resonating with the decisions made by veterans in their service.

The true soldier fights not for the hatred of what is in front of him, but for the love of what is behind him. – G.K. Chesterton

Chesterton, an English writer, philosopher, and critic, captures the essence of a soldier’s motivation, which is not animosity but love and duty towards their homeland.

On this Veterans Day, let us remember the service of our veterans, and let us renew our national promise to fulfill our sacred obligations to our veterans and their families who have sacrificed so much so that we can live free. – Dan Lipinski

Reflects on the importance of fulfilling national promises to veterans and their families.

The willingness of America’s veterans to sacrifice for our country has earned them our lasting gratitude. – Jeff Miller

Highlights the sacrifices of America’s veterans and the gratitude they deserve.

Honoring the sacrifices many have made for our country in the name of freedom and democracy is the very foundation of Veterans Day. – Charles B. Rangel

Emphasizes honoring the sacrifices for freedom and democracy.

America’s Veterans have served their country with the belief that democracy and freedom are ideals to be upheld around the world. – John Doolittle Speaks to veterans’ service in the name of democracy and freedom worldwide.

The veterans of our military services have put their lives on the line to protect the freedoms that we enjoy. They have dedicated their lives to their country and deserve to be recognized for their commitment. – Judd Gregg

Recognizes the lifelong dedication of veterans to their country.

While only one day of the year is dedicated solely to honoring our veterans, Americans must never forget the sacrifices that many of our fellow countrymen have made to defend our country and protect our freedoms. – Randy Neugebauer

Reminds us to remember veterans’ sacrifices beyond just Veterans Day.

We owe our World War II veterans – and all our veterans – a debt we can never fully repay. – Doc Hastings

Addresses the immense debt owed to World War II and all soldiers.

We hire military veterans because they make great employees. They bring proven technical and leadership skills. They understand teamwork, and they’re adaptable. Bottom line, hiring veterans is good for business. – Randall L. Stephenson

Discusses the benefits of hiring veterans for their skills and leadership.

But this Veterans Day, I believe we should do more than sing the praises of the bravery and patriotism that our veterans have embodied in the past. We should take this opportunity to re-evaluate how we are treating our veterans in the present. – Nick Lampson

Urges a re-evaluation of how veterans are treated currently.

Veterans report that service dogs help break their isolation. People will often avert their eyes when they see a wounded veteran. But when the veteran has a dog, the same people will come up and say, ‘Hi’ to pet the dog and then strike up a conversation. – Al Franken

Notes the role of service dogs in helping veterans engage socially.

The sanctity of our battlefields, monuments, and veterans institutions is of utmost importance to preserve military history and pay respect to those who fought. – Henry Waxman

Talks about the importance of preserving military history and respecting veterans.

No matter how bad any situation, cynicism has no positive impact. Watching the news, you might notice that cynicism and victimhood often seem to go hand-in-hand, but not for veterans. – Jim Mattis

Discusses cynicism’s impact on veterans and their perception.

Moral Injury is differentiated from PTSD in that it directly relates to guilt and shame veterans experience as a result of committing actions that go against their moral codes. Therapists who study and treat moral injury have found that no amount of medication can relieve the pain of trying to live with these moral burdens. – Chuck Norris

Addresses the moral injury and guilt experienced by veterans.

Veterans are a symbol of what makes our nation great, and we must never forget all they have done to ensure our freedom. – Rodney Frelinghuysen

Highlights veterans as symbols of national greatness and freedom.

Military service members and veterans, like my uncle, enable me to live my life with freedom and liberty. – George Kittle

Expresses personal gratitude for the freedoms provided by military service members.

Veterans Day is an acknowledgment that those willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for our country – and their families – deserve our admiration and respect today and every day.” – Elizabeth Esty

Acknowledges the need to honor veterans and their families consistently.

Memorial Day isn’t just about honoring veterans, its honoring those who lost their lives. Veterans had the fortune of coming home. For us, that’s a reminder of when we come home we still have a responsibility to serve. It’s a continuation of service that honors our country and those who fell defending it. – Pete Hegseth

Differentiates between honoring living veterans and memorializing fallen soldiers.

I hope to live long enough to see my surviving comrades march side by side with the Union veterans along Pennsylvania Avenue, and then I will die happy. – James Longstreet

Hopes for unity among veterans of different wars.

It was a requirement by the veterans to list the 57,000 names. We’re reaching a time that we’ll acknowledge the individual in a war on a national level. – Maya Lin

Discusses recognizing individual veterans in war memorials.

The object of my relationship with Vietnam has been to heal the wounds that exist, particularly among our veterans, and to move forward with a positive relationship,… Apparently some in the Vietnamese government don’t want to do that and that’s their decision. – Ho Chi Minh

Talks about healing and moving forward with Vietnam veterans.

I think the government has a role to play in helping people with PTSD. Certainly, veterans who’ve come back from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from PTSD deserve treatment which is thorough and comprehensive. – Moby

Believes in the government’s role in caring for soldiers.

You can’t understand until you’ve been in that situation. The things that these young men and women go through, it’s life-changing. They come back, they’re different. We owe them. – Tommy Tuberville

Highlights the long-term impact of combat on veterans.

Veterans face many challenges when they return home. It’s shocking to think that one of these challenges might be that their job isn’t there for them when they return. – John Delaney

Discusses the transition challenges faced by veterans.

It’s unacceptable that disabled veterans in America can live their lives with the fear of losing their homes because of their inability to pay property taxes. – Chris Gardner

Addresses poverty and homelessness among veterans.

We need to provide our all volunteer military with the best equipment, the best benefits, and the best medical care. They deserve nothing less. – Sue Kelly

Speaks on the necessity of quality benefits and medical care for veterans.

Veterans should have the choice to see the doctors they want to see and to get the care they need when they need it. – David Jolly

Proposes giving veterans more choice in their healthcare.

Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices. – Michelle Obama

Emphasizes national love and gratitude for veterans.

We must ensure that every veteran has a house, medical care, a job, and an education. We owe them that much. – Solomon Ortiz

Discusses the need for supportive government policies for veterans.

We have a moral obligation to support and protect our veterans, and we are failing in that duty. – Letitia James

Highlights the service gaps for veterans.

Caring for veterans shouldn’t be a partisan issue. It should an American one. – Steve Buyer

Talks about the American value of caring for veterans.

We are working to ensure that veterans can access health care when and where they need it. It’s our top priority. – Robert Wilkie

Addresses access issues to medical care for veterans.

We made a promise to our veterans. We have to keep it. That means ensuring they get the care they’ve been promised. – Raphael Warnock

Commits to ensuring veterans receive promised care.

I have nothing but pride for what our veterans have done and continue to do for our country. – Jim Davis

Expresses pride and gratitude for veterans’ contributions.

Our veterans deserve not only our gratitude but also the best medical and psychological care we can provide. – Bill Foster

Discusses the need for comprehensive assistance for veterans.

It’s essential that we get our veterans timely access to the quality health care they have earned and deserve. – David Shulkin

Focuses on the importance of timely medical care for veterans.

When you look at what’s happening with our veterans and the way they’re treated, I can’t help but think that people like Chelsea Manning get more attention than the real issues our veterans face. – Dakota Meyer

Compares the needs of veterans to the platform of Chelsea Manning.

We’ve come a long way since Vietnam in how we treat our veterans, but we still have a long way to go. – Barbara Bush

Reflects on the improved treatment of veterans compared to the Vietnam era.

I went to North Vietnam to try to stop the bombing of the dikes and to help increase the pressure for the Nixon administration to end the war. That was the intention. – Jane Fonda

Describes her involvement with veterans and the Vietnam War.

My father earned his citizenship by serving in the United States Army during World War II. That’s a debt I can never repay. – Tom Perez

Shares a personal story about his father, a veteran.

Among the many things that this country has been in denial about is how poorly we treat our veterans. – George Packer

Lists veterans’ care among critical unaddressed issues.

My military experience definitely shaped who I am today. It taught me discipline, respect, and the value of hard work. – Chuck Norris

Talks about how military experience shaped his character.

We need to make sure that our disabled veterans have access to paid medical leave. It’s the least we can do for those who have sacrificed so much for our country. – John Delaney

Proposes solutions for disabled veterans’ medical leave.

Disabled veterans should not have to worry about student loan debt. Automatic forgiveness is a step in the right direction. – Conor Lamb

Advocates for automatic debt forgiveness for disabled veterans.

When I was on ‘Mama’s Family,’ we had young actors who didn’t understand the importance of respecting veterans. I made sure they learned. – Vicki Lawrence

Reflects on teaching young actors about respecting veterans.

I’ve always been interested in how veterans readjust to civilian life. Their experiences are something we should all try to understand. – George Pelecanos

Shares his interest in veterans’ post-service life adjustments.

Wishes and Sayings to Thank Veterans

Our greatest appreciation cannot just be expressed in words, but in the way we love our country

We honor your fight in the name of freedom.

Heroism is seen in the sacrifice that you gave.

The cost of freedom is high only because the value of the hero is as well.

We celebrate the heroes who fought for freedom.

How great is the life that sacrifices itself so others may live.

Your fight is not forgotten, and your victory is not in vain.  We celebrate you.

Our veterans deserve the highest praise for giving their all for us all.

It was for more than duty, honor, and country.  It was for freedom. Thank you for your service.

Cheers to the great men and women who fought for our country. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

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How to Thank a Veteran on Veterans Day: 25+ Messages

Updated 09/14/2022

Published 06/19/2020

Sherrie Johnson, BA in Liberal Studies

Contributing writer

Cake values integrity and transparency. We follow a strict editorial process to provide you with the best content possible. We also may earn commission from purchases made through affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more in our affiliate disclosure .

Veterans Day is celebrated every November 11th and is an excellent opportunity to honor and thank the servicemen and women who have served in every branch of the armed forces.

Jump ahead to these sections:

Should you say ‘happy veterans day’ to a veteran, how to say ‘happy veterans day’ to a veteran in-person, how to thank a veteran on veterans day in a letter or card, what to write on a ‘thank you, veterans’ sign or banner, ideas for expressing gratitude to veterans in a social media post.

It can be hard to know what to say besides, “Thank you for your service,” so if you need some inspiration, you’ve come to the right place!

Veterans Day is a happy celebration during which each American has the opportunity to thank those who have served the nation in military service. As opposed to Memorial Day , Veterans Day isn’t a solemn occasion. Because of this, saying “Happy Veterans Day” to a veteran can be used in the same way a greeting like “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Thanksgiving” is used.

However, if you want to really encourage a veteran and thank them for their service, then coming up with something more inventive than simply saying, “Happy Veterans Day” will go a long way.

If you spend the day with a veteran you know, whether it’s your brother, sister, cousin, or grandfather, you’ll have a unique opportunity to thank them in person for their service. Here are a few ways to say thank you .

1. “Thank you so much for serving our country the way you did. I am proud to be your friend/daughter/cousin/etc. You may not think of yourself like this but to me, you really are a hero.”

Many veterans would say they aren’t heroes, but simply did their duty as an American. Let them know how much you think of them and tell them that they’re a hero in your eyes.

2. Patriotic flowers

If the veteran you know would appreciate flowers, be sure to get a patriotic flower arrangement with red, white, and blue flowers. Include a note telling them how thankful you are for their service.

Pro Tip: Dress up the bouquet by adding a mini American flag and wrapping it in red or blue cellophane.

3. Invite them over

If you know of a veteran who doesn’t have family around or is separated from family due to distance, invite them over for a Veterans Day meal or BBQ at your home. Tell them how much you appreciate their service.

4. Donate to a vet organization in their name

If a veteran you know has an organization that is dear to them, consider donating to the cause in their name. Send them a message along with the donation notification thanking them for their service.

5. Ask them to share their stories

If you know of a veteran who would be interested in having someone listen to their stories, invite that person over on Veteran’s Day. Host a get together where they can share their stories and your friends and family can listen to an eyewitness account of history.

It might not always be practical to thank a veteran you know in person. If you know of a veteran you want to thank and can only send a letter or card, this next section is for you.

6. “I know I may not fully understand all the sacrifices you’ve had to make, but I can’t thank you enough for your service. I don’t take our freedoms for granted and I respect you so much for the part you played in making sure we have them.” 

This is a heartfelt message that shares how you feel about their service on behalf of the country.

7. Send a letter package

Ask your friends, children, and neighbors to write thank you notes to the veteran you know. Collect all the notes and send them together in one package so they’ll have a bunch of cards to open.

8. Send a series of letters

To prolong the enjoyment of receiving letters and cards, have everyone you know write cards and letters, but instead of sending them in one package altogether, mail them one at a time, every other day. This way, they’ll have a week or two of receiving cards. They might just write you back saying, “ thank you for your support .”

9. “Thank you for serving our country and helping keep us free. I respect and honor you more than you know.”

Sometimes, simply thanking someone for what they have done is all that needs to be said.

10. “You are an inspiration to me. When I think of what it means to be a hero, I think of you.”

Telling a veteran how much you appreciate their service, their sacrifice, and their contribution to America will encourage them and help them know that their sacrifice has not been forgotten.

If you’re going to a parade, or live along a parade route, make a sign to thank the veterans passing by and bring a smile to their face by showing you care . Signs and banners have a limited amount of space, so make your words count!

11. “Thank you for serving!”

This is simple and short, but to the point and will communicate your gratitude.

12. “Veterans are my heroes!”

Let the veterans that see your banner know that they’re heroes in your eyes.

13. “Land of the free, home of the BRAVE!”

America is free because of the brave. Use this to recognize the brave men and women you know.

14. “God Bless Our Vets!”

This short phrase will be deeply meaningful for veterans with a religious background to see.

15. “Our Vets are the Best!”

A sign like this is perfect for kids to hold. Even better—have your kids write it, too!

Read our guide on how to honor fallen veterans for more ideas.

Social media provides a perfect opportunity to thank veterans you know, near and far. Take some time on Veterans Day to put together a post thanking them for their service.

16. “To all the veterans of the Armed Forces… I am proud of you, I respect you, I honor you, and I thank you for your service. Thank you for keeping America free.”

Set this message to “public” on your social media account and anyone will be able to see it. People you don’t even know will appreciate these words and feel honored and respected for their years of sacrifice.

17. Post a picture

Post a picture of your child pledging to the flag, waving a flag, or doing something patriotic. Attach a message thanking the veterans you know for their service.

18. Share a video

Record yourself sharing how much it means to you that veterans served in the armed forces. Share why their service is important, what you respect about it, and personally shout out any veterans you know.

Pro Tip: Make it even more interesting by including friends or children in your message. Have each person say one thing they appreciate about veterans or personally thank someone they know. Once the video is posted, be sure to tag each veteran mentioned in the video.

19. Post a photograph

If you have a photograph with you and a veteran, post it with a message. Be sure to tell them how thankful you are for their service, how much you appreciate their sacrifice, and how much you respect them for the way they served.

20. “To [name of your veteran friend], Thank you for your example of sacrifice, service, and dedication to the nation and people you love. You are an inspiration to me.”

Use a message like this and post it directly on your friend’s social media page. If they don’t have a page, post it to yours and tag them or someone they know to ensure they see it.

21. Post a charity fundraiser

Choose a veteran organization such as AMVETs and host a fundraiser for a week starting or ending with Veterans Day. Be sure to explain why you’re hosting a virtual fundraiser, what the organization does for veterans, and why you personally appreciate their work.

22. Post messages for vets in each branch of the military

During the week leading up to Veterans Day, post messages for veterans in each branch, thanking them for their services. By thanking vets and specifically mentioning the Air Force, Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard, you’ll encourage and honor vets deeply by recognizing their specific branch of service.

23. Post a patriotic GIF

Find a gif that has patriotic elements or a thank you message. Sometimes, a GIF can speak for you if you don’t know what else to say. 

Pro Tip: Search GIFs for each branch of the military to find the right message. If you’re thanking a specific individual, find a gif that highlights the branch they served in to personalize your thank you message.

24. “To each veteran I know [tag veterans here], thank you for your sacrifice. America wouldn’t be what it is without you.”

Tag the veterans you know in this message for a quick way to honor them.

25. “Happy Veterans Day to each service member in the armed forces. It’s because of you that each of us can enjoy safety and freedom. God bless each one of you and God bless America.”

This simple message shares the reason why veterans should be honored and respected—their sacrifice for our freedoms. 

Honor the Heroes You Know 

When Veterans Day rolls around each year, take the opportunity to honor a vet you know. Don’t let time pass you by until it’s too late to thank them. If you’re still finding it hard to figure out what to say, just remember that it’s always the thought that counts—and your friend will know when you are sincerely grateful for their sacrifice.

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This must-read essay explains the military’s discomfort with ‘Thank you for your service’

By Team Mighty

Updated on Oct 30, 2020 9:48 AM PDT

3 minute read

When a stranger says “Thank you for your service” to a veteran, it’s often an awkward — and short — conversation. For some veterans, being thanked for their job seems odd: I didn’t really do much , some may think. You’re thanking me for something you don’t even understand is another thought that may come to mind.

When I hear it, I cordially say thank you back. In my opinion, it takes some guts for a random stranger to approach and express that appreciation. But I sometimes think it may be the wrong sentiment. Sadly, “Thank you for your service” has become the end of the conversation, not the beginning. It’s a phrase that has become a punchline in military circles — thought as empty and overused — and takes away from what could be a chance for civilians to ask questions and really understand what troops have done.

Air Force veteran Elizabeth O’Herrin responds in a similar way, saying “my pleasure” in response. But was it really? As she explains in a wonderful essay at the website Medium , the exchange of pleasantries can take a quick turn:

Upon returning home, being thanked for my service became something I found awkward. My experience was not that traumatic. It was not that dangerous. It didn’t truly feel like a sacrifice. Other people certainly deserved a thank you, but not me. Not when I remembered leaning over a guy who had just lost his leg, scrubbing blood from his hands, attempting a conversation to soothe him when he was incoherent, doped up on morphine. Digging through his bag to find his Purple Heart because he became panicked when he couldn’t remember where they put it. I dug through the normal shit he packed in his bag earlier that day, back when he had two legs, like bubble gum. “Thank you for your service.” I didn’t deserve much thanks for anything.

O’Herrin, who helped fuse bombs on jets that were later dropped on the bad guys, is and should be proud of her service. Like many of the post-9/11 military generation, she volunteered at a time of war and performed an essential job that most certainly resulted in saved lives on the ground.

In her essay, she recalls seeing a wounded veteran on the D.C. metro, and making eye contact with his mother. She struggles in that moment with wanting to tell the mother — who has no idea she is a veteran — that she understands at least some of what she’s going through. She wants to empathize with her, and tell her that she feels her pain.

“But I knew I couldn’t say something without sounding vapid and empty, swiping at some semblance of shared experience and missing entirely,” O’Herrin writes.

In this experience, she learns an important point, and one that perhaps all veterans should take to heart. While “thank you for your service” can sometimes sound like an empty phrase, just remember in that time before you heard it, that person had to work up the courage to approach when they were not obligated in any way. Far from the awful homecoming of our Vietnam veterans who were sometimes cursed by those who never served, this generation of veterans should accept that phrase and embrace it.

“They wanted me to know they felt something, and chose to say it,” O’Herrin writes in her closing. “And I feel grateful for their words.”

Now read the entire thing over at Medium

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What To Say Instead of Thanking a Veteran for Their Service

‍ This essay is an op-ed by Nate Carden. The viewpoints and opinions expressed in op-eds are those of the author and do not necessarily mirror those of Good Good Good.

When I tell people I work for a nonprofit organization that helps veterans, I usually get looks of sympathy. People respond that it’s a shame veterans who have done so much for our country are now homeless and wounded and suffer from PTSD.

I thank them for caring, and sometimes, if I can, I kindly tell them that I don’t want their sympathy.

While in the military, these veterans felt like heroes , but when they get out all too many people see them as broken even though an overwhelming portion of those leaving the military don’t struggle with homelessness or post-traumatic stress.

In fact, they are stronger, more resilient, and better leaders than when they went in.

You might also like: The best good news stories about veterans

How to greet a veteran — on Veterans Day and all year long

If we remind veterans that they are heroes who are fundamentally oriented to service and are better for what they went through in the military, we have a chance at healing the divide in our country.

I get it though. Sad stories attract viewers, readers, and funding dollars.

But it’s frustrating as a veteran to only hear stories about veteran homelessness and wounded warriors  —  the first things people think of when they think about veterans.

When we as a society look at veterans as help cases, we end up perpetuating the problem.

I don’t know anyone who signed up for the military so that they could get healthcare benefits, pity, or handouts.

We signed up to serve our country. Service is in our blood. And it doesn’t disappear when we leave the military.

Following World War II, almost half of the veterans went on to own or operate a business.

Fred Smith started FedEx, Phil Knight started Nike, and Bob McDonald led Procter & Gamble. These veterans were responsible for one of the greatest economic booms in history.

Fast forward, and the reality today is less than 6 percent of veterans are becoming entrepreneurs, even though 25 percent say they want to start a business .

We as a country need our veterans and military spouses to start businesses because when they do, they are more likely to be successful, hire other veterans, donate more money to their communities, and engage in civic activities including running for office.

We’re working on this at Bunker Labs and each of us have a role to play in encouraging this.

The day our society starts looking to veterans for leadership after they leave the military  —  not just during their service  —  will be the day that our nation starts to work together again.

The reality is veterans are uniquely qualified to lead our nation economically and politically.

Ask veterans to lead in business and politics, and not only will the economy get stronger and foreign policy be more thoughtful, but veterans will be better for it as well.

Instead of thanking a veteran for their service, start asking them what world-changing thing they’re doing now.

Remind them that our country needs their leadership now more than ever, and I guarantee we’ll start to see veteran homelessness , suicide, and drug use all decline.

Nate Carden attended the United States Air Force Academy and went on to receive a master’s degree from Sciences Po in Paris, France.

He served as a Captain in the Medical Service Corps at Langley Air Force Base and deployed to Afghanistan as a mentor of medical logistics to the Afghan National Army.

When Nate wrote this article, he was the national director of programs and partnerships for Bunker Labs , a national network of veteran entrepreneurs dedicated to helping new veteran entrepreneurs start their own businesses.

As of November 2023, more than 1,000 startups have completed a Bunker Labs program and have created more than 6,302 jobs and generated more than $1.79 billion in revenue.

Today, Nate is the founder of CEO Amplifier .

Five ways to support veterans in the United States

• Just as Nate Carden said, instead of simply thanking a veteran for their service, go a step further and genuinely ask a veteran what world-changing thing they’re doing right now. ‍
• Read and share good news about veterans that go beyond the clichés. (Explore our collection of veteran good news ) ‍
• Go beyond the clichés on Veterans Day. Celebrate with these unique Veterans Day ideas. ‍ ‍
• Donate to With Honor Action — a cross-partisan movement dedicated to promoting principled veteran leadership in elected public service for the purpose of a less polarized government working for and trusted by Americans. ‍
• Support those who are working to serve their country after service. Buy from veteran small business owners. Campaign for veterans running for office. Vote for veterans whose platforms you align with. Donate to veterans doing good. Learn from veterans sharing their wisdom. Support veterans.

A version of this article was originally published in The Veterans Edition of the Goodnewspaper in 2019. → You can subscribe to become a Goodnewspaper subscriber today. ‍ ‍

Veterans Day greeting advice — from a veteran

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An Inspiring List of Veterans Day Thank You Messages

Any day is a good day to thank a veteran for his or her service. However, it’s particularly important on November 11, otherwise known as Veterans Day. Initially meant to celebrate world peace and the end of World War I , Veterans Day has evolved into a holiday honoring current and former members of the United States Armed Forces.

Popular: Thanksgiving Messages For Family and Friends

So, how do you thank a veteran? It can be tough to find adequate words, given everything they mean to our country. In many cases, a simple “thank you for your service” is enough. But if you’re looking for something more – whether it’s to personally thank someone you know, or to express your gratitude for all those who have served – check out the following list of ideas.

Thanking All Veterans

Here are some short messages of thanks you can send out to all military veterans in November .

• To our soldiers out there… thank you for the risks you take and the sacrifices you make.

• To all veterans of all branches: Thank you for your sacrifice, your bravery, and the example you set for us all. In short, thank you for your service!
• To all those who have served, and those who continue to serve… Happy Veterans Day!
• Happy Veterans Day to our soldiers, both past and present. We owe you our thanks, but more than that, we owe you our freedom.
• There’s no way to thank our veterans for everything they sacrifice for our freedom, but on Veterans Day, we have to try. So thank you to all our service men and women, both past and present!
• Veterans Day is a good time to remember that our freedom isn’t guaranteed. It’s protected by the men and women in our Armed Services. To those who secure our way of life… thank you!
• To all the veterans out there… we salute you! Thank you for your service and sacrifice!
• Thank you to all members of our military, in all branches, past and present, living and dead.

• On this day, we honor all current and former members of the Armed Services. Our country’s greatness is built on the foundation of your courage and sacrifice. Thank you!
• Happy Veterans Day to our military and their families, who sacrifice so much to keep our country safe and strong.
• Not only should we thank the military this Veterans Day, but we should resolve to thank them throughout the year for the vital service they perform for our country.

Thanking an Individual Veteran

A message to an individual should obviously take a slightly different form. Here are some examples of how to say thank you to a veteran using a more personal tone.

• Did you know there are over one million active duty military? That means you are truly one in a million. Happy Veterans Day!
• Just wanted you to know how proud I am to have a friend who served our country with honor. Thank you for your service, and Happy Veterans Day!
• Happy Veterans Day to a great veteran and a great [husband/wife/dad/mom/friend]. You make me doubly proud.

• I know you’re probably seeing lots of Happy Veterans Day messages, but I just wanted to send you my personal thanks for your service.
• Happy Veterans Day to my favorite soldier.

In reality, we can never thank our veterans enough for their service. Inspiring as they may be, the above Veterans Day messages are just a small token of the gratitude we should all feel.

Mat Jobe is an inveterate introvert and professional punster. His latest book is 501 History Puns: A Joke Book for the Ages . You can read more about him on his Author Bio Page .

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Thank you, veterans

We appreciate you!

Join in the fun by sharing something about your military service on Instagram. Your loved ones, friends, or family can share too. Just tag your post with #thankyouveterans. Our veterans deserve our recognition and thanks!

Thank You, Veterans

After 11 years of putting together the photo gallery Fish and Wildlife Service Thanks Our Veterans , you might think that I’d be used to the short comments some veterans include.  

You’d be wrong. 

Reading quotations from young people who put their personal lives on hold to serve their neighbors, communities, and country still gives me chills. 

Then, after their military career, or sometimes during, they work for the world’s wildlife. 

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is incredibly proud that many military veterans find a second home with us.  

We are lucky, too, because of the strong set of skills and perspectives veterans bring. Using what they learned in the military – and sometimes even well after their service – veterans pursue diverse careers in science, nature, computers, heavy equipment maintenance, engineering, finance, communications, law enforcement, and much more. 

So thank you, veterans, for your military service, public service, and 11 years of chills. 

• Careers and Internships
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Voice of the people (May 19, 2024): Thank you for support during our Flight to Honor

Thank you for support during our Flight to Honor

I would like to thank Polk Veterans Council and all of the sponsors.

I am 81 years old and served 1965 to 1971 in the Army. The attitude of the public about the military in the past 60 years has reversed for the better.

I was one of the 86 veterans and 86 escorts on the April 30 "Flight to Honor" to D.C. We flew from Lakeland to Baltimore, walked inside the airport about a quarter mile to our buses. There was a standing ovation and a lot of “thank you for your service” that lasted until the last veteran passed.

When we returned to Lakeland, there was a large crowd to greet us. We walked down a red carpet with lots of American flags waving, many hand shakes and “thank you for your service.” I had about 55 letters and notes from school students and others. A "Certificate of Congressional Recognition" for dedicated service to the Armed Forces of the USA signed by Congressman Scott Franklin.

I never thought much about my serving in the Army, just fulfilling my duty to my country (drafted). I was very much humbled by the support that we received on this Flight to Honor.

Terry Parker, Lakeland

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Flight to Honor

As a recipient of the generosity of individual, corporate and organizational donors that funded Mission 9 “Flight to Honor” event, I express my heartfelt thanks.

The 86 guardians that accompanied we 86 selected veterans paid a fee to perform that service, helping to offset the expense too.

Many volunteers in numerous capacities contributed countless hours.

It was a privilege to go to our capital and the different memorials, to honor those that paid the ultimate price for all of us.

Thanks also to the schools and teachers that encouraged our young people to express their gratitude to us for our service in notes and letters we received in the “mail call” portion of our event. Also received were expressions of gratitude from individuals, families, corporations and organizations.

The icing on the cake, was the overwhelming turnout at the airport to greet us upon our return home.

Ralph D. Shadley, Lakeland

Voice of the People (May 5, 2024): Roundabout at Galloway and 10th Street would be a waste

Vote for Donald Trump

When I read the Lakeland Ledger's "Voice of the People" highlighting different viewpoints on politics, I start to question, "What does America stand for today?"

The United States of America, once a secure, united, free, sovereign, constitutional republic is now politically a socialist, failed, bankrupt, dictatorial third-world country. Former President Obama and current President Biden's progressive socialist democratic party's vision was and still is "Fundamentally Transforming America."

Big-money corporations rule. Where's our congressional representatives and government leadership? Are they ensuring energy independence, a balanced federal budget and reducing our national debt?  Honest voting laws need to be enforced throughout all 50 states. Thousands of undocumented illegal immigrants are pouring across our open borders every day. America's future national security is a concern.

Be an informed voter in November 2024. Consider who will secure our borders and restore our national security while draining socialist, racist swamps. Celebrate America's history, freedoms and our founding fathers' Constitutional rule of law and vote to support business regrowth and capitalism. Vote for Donald Trump's business leadership and bring back a government to Washington D.C. that supports, recognizes and represents all American working middle class taxpaying citizens.

Walt Back, Lakeland

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Columnist refuses to believe Trump’s guilt?

So R. Bruce Anderson, a college professor teaching government, no less, had an epiphany when a sharp legal mind spoke to his class about “factual guilt” vs “legal guilt,” determining that while Donald Trump is indeed “factually guilty” in his election interference trial in New York, he now refuses (Anderson’s italics) to believe that Trump is “legally guilty.”

This of course despite the factual evidence, including the $310,000 in payouts, that Anderson does believe, and based on his reasoning, if you want to call it that, that Americans are so morally bereft that they wouldn’t care about yet another story of Trump’s sleaze or crimes and would have elected him anyway, and Trump knew it too.

This is similar to those who refuse to believe that they were anything except “tourists” there at the Capitol, because Speaker Mike Johnson has released more than 30 seconds of tapes showing those who illegally entered the Capitol acting peacefully while disrupting the certification of the next POTUS.

I would say that many times, if you refuse (my italics) to believe something, in reality you’re proving that it is indeed true. The irony of course: Anderson will refuse to believe this too.

Kevin Kayden, Bartow

Want to contribute?

Send letters to the editor to [email protected] , or Voice of the People, P.O. Box 408, Lakeland, FL, 33802. Submit on the website at http://tinyurl.com/28hnh3xj , or go to TheLedger.com , click on the menu arrow at the top of the website and click Submit a Letter. Letters must be 200 words or less and meet standards of decency and taste.

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