Seven Ways to Show Patriotism
We just celebrated Memorial Day and The Fourth of July is right around the corner. This time of year causes many of us to reflect on our love of country and feelings of patriotism. Here are seven meaningful, tangible ways to express patriotism this summer and all year long.
1. Fly the American flag – This is the simplest and most obvious way to show your love of country. If you do choose to fly Old Glory, it’s important to do so correctly. Flags should only be displayed between sunrise and sunset, unless the flag in illuminated after dark. The flag should also be taken down if it rains, snows or there are high winds. The flag should never touch the ground. If it becomes damaged, it should be disposed of with a proper burning ceremony. Many veterans’ groups offer this service for free on Flag Day.
2. Send a HeroBox – We’ve all heard that saying, “Home of the free, because of the brave.” One of the best ways to show your patriotism is to honor the military men and women who spend everyday protecting and defending the United States, so we can live our lives. The HeroBox organization helps you send care packages to troops overseas. You can participate by packing and sending a box for $40 a or less. Just a few dollars will make a big difference to the service men and women who receive your box.
3. Say Thank You – A Million Thanks is an organization that collects Thank You letters and cards for the troops. All you have to do is write a few words of gratitude and send your letter to A Million Thanks. They’ll make sure your note gets into the hands of one of our courageous military men and women.
4. Volunteer with Disabled American Veterans – It’s also important to honor our military veterans who spent time serving our country. The Disabled American Veterans organization provides many ways for you to support veterans in your community through volunteer opportunities. You can help drive veterans to doctor’s appointments, do yard work and other home improvement projects or provide assistance at VA hospitals.
5. Volunteer with the Veterans History Project – If you have a knack for getting folks to talk, this may be the perfect opportunity for you. The Veterans History Project collects and preserves the personal accounts of our veterans’ military experiences for generations to come. On their website, you’ll find guidelines for conducting and recording interviews. You can interview family members, friends and other veterans in your community. Afterwards, simply send the materials you collected to the VHP to be archived.
6. Visit a national monument or park – National monuments and parks are designated to preserve locations and events that are historically and culturally significant to the United States. National monuments located in Michigan include the WWII submarine USS Silversides in Muskegon, The Detroit Public Library’s statue of Abraham Lincoln and Monument Square in Battle Creek, a Civil War memorial. Michigan’s Sleeping Bear Dunes and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshores are both a part of the National Parks system. The monuments give you an opportunity to learn about and reflect on people and events integral to our existence as a nation. The national lakeshores give you an opportunity to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of our country and the importance of our natural resources.
6. Vote – As Americans, one of our greatest rights is to vote in free and fair elections. As a citizen, it’s important to exercise that right and make your voice heard. Continuing to participate in democracy is the only way to ensure it still exists for the next generation. Voting for school board representatives is just as important as voting for president. The next election day for most Michiganders is a primary on August 8th.
7. Learn history – How and why was our country founded? What does the Constitution say? How does Congress work? Why did we fight in WWI? It’s important to know and understand our history and our government in order to know and understand where to go in the future. The Henry Ford Museum in Detroit, the Gerald R. Ford Museum in Grand Rapids and the Michigan History Center in Lansing are just a few of the places in our state where you can learn about our country’s storied past.
