By Dole Caregiver Fellow Amber Oldfield
On November 11th, every social media outlet will remind us all that it is indeed Veterans Day. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, you name it, each will be full of thanks for the service of all U.S. military veterans. Some cities will host parades and provide discounted meals at restaurants as an attempt to thank veterans everywhere. For military caregivers like myself, every day is Veterans Day as I honor him with support, loyalty, love, and friendship.
I always remind him of how thankful I am for his service to our family and country. Managing doctors’ appointments, therapy, nights without sleep, and days filled with anxiety and fear are worth it, because I am honored to be my husband’s caregiver. This service is humbling. Nothing prepared me for a life of service to my loved one, but it is incredibly rewarding to thank him for his service on a daily basis.
My heart aches when I see a man or woman who served sitting alone in a café. While everyone busily converses with their friends and family, they seldom look up to notice these veterans’ presence. How difficult is it to recognize the cap that veterans proudly wear announcing their service to our country? They deserves a pat on the back, a hug, maybe even someone else picking up their tab. But, no matter what you do, always, always, thank our veterans for their service. Look them in the eyes and shake their hands. Every day is Veterans Day.
As a community, we are often unsure how we can personally support our military veterans and caregivers. HiddenHeroes.org was created to provide education pertaining to the needs and resources of veterans and caregivers. You can login and read the stories of families across the United States who are serving as caregivers. Learn about their veterans and what they are doing to overcome their struggles. Search the resources area to see all of the incredible organizations who have already provided support to these families. Most of all, I urge you to connect with your local caregivers through the Hidden Heroes website to see how you can join forces to love and support our veterans on a daily basis.
Together we can educate and support our veterans and caregivers. If you are a caregiver, please sign up at HiddenHeroes.org to connect with other caregivers and access support services.
