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Support Our Troops - It's More Than a Bumper Sticker

VFW Offers Ideas to Celebrate Veteran's Day 2007

KANSAS CITY, Mo., Nov. 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As Veteran's Day approaches (11/11/07), the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States) encourages all Americans to consider what it means to Support Our Troops.

First, consider the facts -- who are "the troops"? They're male and
female; young and old; they're serving today or they served 60 years ago, and they come from every ethnic group -- in short, they represent all Americans. Currently, there are:

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-- 1.4 million active duty military (source: U.S. Department of Defense)

-- 1.1 million serve in the National Guard and Reserve forces (source: Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve)

-- 283,848 active and reserve deployed worldwide (source: VFW)

-- 23.7 million veterans (source: U.S. Census Bureau)

No matter what their political party, everyone agrees that our military and veterans deserve our support. These brave men and women have put their lives on the line every day to protect our freedom. A yellow ribbon is a great start, but what more can we all do to show our support? The VFW offers these simple tips to truly celebrate Veteran's Day:

-- Say "thank you": veterans and members of the military are also members of your community. We see them as we go about our day. Take a moment to stop and say thank you -- it's a simple gesture that speaks volumes.

-- Do something nice for a veteran's family. Bring over a meal. Take the kids out to give a military spouse a break. Offer to drive the carpool. It's especially hard for the families of those deployed to cope with everyday life struggles.

-- Encourage veterans and their families to take advantage of programs like those offered by the VFW, including the Military Assistance Program, Operation Uplink and the Unmet Needs program. Visit http://www.vfw.org  for more information.

-- Volunteer at your local Veteran's Hospital or Retirement Facility, even if it's only for an hour. Or, ask what items you can donate. Visit http://www.va.go/directory

-- Send a care package to a currently deployed unit. Contact your local VFW post to participate in an Adopt-A-Unit program. Encourage your family and friends to do the same. Visit: http://emem.vfw.org/findpost.aspx

-- Send thank you cards to send to a local VA hospital to cheer newly returning troops. Consider working with a local organization to organize a card-making campaign.

-- Fly the United States flag, especially on patriotic holidays. For tips on flag etiquette, visit http://www.vfw.org

Headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United State) is a non-profit organization dedicated to honoring the sacrifice and ensuring the rights of America's veterans through advocacy, support and community service, while promoting patriotism. The VFW offers a wide array of services to support veterans and their families throughout their military career, from active duty to honorably discharged. For more information, visit: http://www.vfw.org or call (816) 756-3390.

-------------------------

Larry Scott  --

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