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You are here: Home / Family and Relationships / I’m Grateful for . . . Our Military Members – Past, Present and Future

November 6, 2015

I’m Grateful for . . . Our Military Members – Past, Present and Future

Hannah & John's WeddingNovember is upon us and many of us think about “giving thanks” this month. At Thanksgiving, we often share what we are thankful for – perhaps we ask family members to share one thing they are grateful for, maybe we have a tree with cut-out leaves where we record our gratitude. Remembering and focusing on our many blessings can help us gain a positive perspective when we experience life challenges.

As we get closer to Veteran’s Day, November 11, 2015, I challenge you to take time on this special day to say “Thank You” to a veteran. Maybe someone in your family serves or served in the military. Perhaps a family member who has passed on served. My father proudly served in the Navy during World War II. My oldest sister was born while he was overseas and he met her for the first time when she was 3 years old. Other family members who have served include my brother-in-law, Butch who served in the Air Force, my father-in-law, Carl who flew a B-24 bomber in WWII, my nephew, Josh who served in the Coast Guard and my son-in-law, John who currently serves in the Navy. AaronReed

Did you know that Veteran’s Day has been honored for nearly 100 years? According to the Veterans.gov website, in 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11th as a legal holiday, with Americans being encouraged to celebrate and honor American’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.

I recently had the opportunity to visit The Lima Company Memorial, The Eyes of Freedom display. I was humbled and saddened by the story of the twenty-two military members who died in service to their country while being deployed in Iraq. One of the service men came from my home town and I remember ten years ago going to the funeral visitation with my daughter. This amazing memorial is a beautiful portrayal of the Lima Company and their story. Visit their website to learn more about their story.

Being grateful is beneficial to you and those around you. Not only will you experience positive emotions from showing your gratitude, but according to WebMD, you may develop resilience that helps you reduce your stress and refocus negative energy into positive energy.

Want to learn more? Professional and enlightening recordings of heart-centered practices can be downloaded by visiting Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center’s Integrative Medicine Services website. Patrice Rancour, MS, RN, PMHCNS-BC has several gratitude recordings that you can download.

So . . . I challenge you to give thanks for those who have served in our military and for your many blessings. Call, write a letter, text, or post on a social media site a “Thank You” to our military. Start your personal gratitude journal. Simply write down three things that you are grateful for – every day.  See if practicing gratitude makes a positive difference in your life.

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WRITTEN BY: Michelle Treber, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Pickaway County, treber.1@osu.edu.

REVIEWED BY: Joanna Rini, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Medina County, rini.41@osu.edu

PHOTO CREDITS:

  • Nancy Harris
  • Michelle Treber

SOURCES:

  • Lima Company Memorial, The Eyes of Freedom. http://limacompanymemorial.org
  • History of Veterans Day. http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/vetdayhistory.asp
  • Heart Centered Practices. http://wexnermedical.osu.edu/patient-care/healthcare-services/integrative-complementary-medicine/heart-centered-practices
  • Gratitude Strategies. http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/four_great_gratitude_strategies
  • Practicing Gratitude. http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/practicing-gratitude-topic-overview

Categories: Family and Relationships, Mind and Body
Tags: gratitude, Gratitude Journal, Thankful, Thankfulness, Veterans, Veterans Day

Avatar for Michelle Treber
Avatar for Michelle Treber

About Michelle Treber

Michelle Treber, LD, MA, is an Ohio State University Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences in Pickaway County. Her area of specialization includes health, nutrition and wellness. Worksite wellness is a passion and she enjoys working with businesses to strengthen and develop their wellness programs. She is married and has a blended family of four adult daughters and one adult son. In her free time she enjoys gardening, walking, mixed media sewing, and biking. Spending time with her grandchildren is a joy. She has a 4 year old granddaughter and an infant grandson who live in Wales and 7 year old twins who live in North Carolina.

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