Veterans Day is a day dedicated to honor the strongest, bravest and most courageous in our country, those who serve or served in the Military. These individuals have been through a lot, to say the least and it’s important to show how valuable they are to keeping our country safe. Generally,it is easy enough to offend a person who was involved in the war by being careless and since many of our patients have been veterans of the war, many may have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). That’s why it’s important to approach this matter with caution, and use the following recommendations:
- It is not always appropriate to use generic poems and quotes. A few words spoken from the heart are much more valuable and express more than any lines in overused verse. However, if the greeting was personalized, do not hesitate to present it.
- Keep it short and sweet. When thanking the veteran for their service, be sure to show gratitude for how they fought for their country, risking their own life. Wishes for health, happiness and long life may seem trivial in other cases but will be good for Veterans’ Day.
- Personalize your greeting. Even if you do not know anything about the veteran’s life, you know one thing, that they fought for your freedom. Address them by name in a greeting. Generalizations are usually only used when referring to a group of people. At the same time, it is recommended to mention the war that the person took part in.
- Avoid details about the war. In most cases, such stories evoke negative emotions rather than positive ones. Such words may even sound inappropriate to people who have never lived in those times. To avoid any feelings of trauma, try to refrain from mentioning any stories that may have hurt them.
- Do not hesitate to wish peace. Veterans know exactly the price of this phenomenon and dream that one day it will be established all over the world. Express gratitude for all heroic deeds and boundless love for the homeland. Inspire veterans to achieve new goals, that their life isn’t over and that you believe in them with all your heart.
- Mention the importance of their heroic actions. We may not know all of what these people had to endure, but we can show our sincere admiration. It may be difficult to cope with emotions on such holidays, but greet them with a comforting smile. Show the veterans gratitude and positivity, because for some, you may be their only support system they have.
Don’t hesitate to use kind, comforting words. For war veterans, even your presence may be special to them so that they may not feel alone. Together, let us honor those who have fought and serviced our nation. Happy Veterans day!