Three Things We Can do on Veteran's Day

When I woke up on this Veteran's Day morning in the year 2010, I did what most of us do. I checked my Facebook page. One of my friends had posted this as her status:

"A veteran is someone, who at one point in their life, wrote a blank check payable to the United States of America for an amount up to, and including, their life. That is beyond honor, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer remember that fact. Copy and paste this as your status if you are a Veteran, know a Veteran, Love a Veteran, or support the Troops."

Our Veteran's, and those currently serving, truly are heroes and it's an honor to be able to support them through our work at the American Red Cross. Maybe you're not familiar with how we support the troops every day so let me give you just a few highlights of our program called Service to Armed Forces:

• The Red Cross helps some 2.6 million members of the military and their families every year.
• We send and receive emergency messages around the world 24/7. For a service member who has left cell phones and Blackberries behind, this service is the connection back to his/her family at home and it's priceless in delivering peace of mind.
• We brief nearly one million deploying service members and their families about how to access Red Cross services when separated.

Those are just the highlights. We do so much more including financial assistance, running a Fallen Solider program like we do here in Dallas, and creating opportunities for you to show your support through programs like Holiday Mail for Heroes. So, I decided to do three things today in honor of Veteran's Day and I'm asking you to join me.

First, I will take a moment of silence to say a very grateful thanks to all of our Veteran's and to those currently serving. Next, I will select a holiday card created by Amy Grant, Dr. Phil, Miley Cyrus or Jane Seymour that will be sent to one of our military members currently serving and lastly, I will make a $25 gift to the Red Cross to go along with that card. It's the least we can do and it's quick and easy to help. Just click here. http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=hmfh_card_gallery&JServSessionIdr004=natkjvom01.app297a

Since I started writing this blog, a Twitter follower posted this as his status: "If you live in freedom, thank a Veteran". On behalf of all of us at the American Red Cross, we do thank you Veteran's. Enjoy your special day.

--Anita Foster, American Red Cross, Dallas, Texas