<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div><br></div><p style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; width: 378px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">As we plan our Memorial Day holiday, consider a few simple and inexpensive ways that you and your family can serve the military and their families. Taking a few minutes from a hectic schedule to show appreciation and kindness to someone serving our country will not only bless you, it will also pay tribute to those who have gone before us and made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We could all use an extra dose of kindness and appreciation these days, wouldn't you agree?</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; width: 378px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Don't let perfection get in the way of progress. Jump in and try one or more of these suggestions or come up with your own plan!</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; width: 378px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Volunteering to place flags on grave sites</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; width: 378px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px;">Reach out to a military family in your community</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; width: 378px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Extend a hand in friendship to a military family. Invite them over for a meal, bring them a meal or invite them out for dinner. Something as simple as running an errand or taking a walk together can forge a friendship. </span></p><p style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; width: 378px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Invite a service member over for a holiday meal or celebration.</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; width: 378px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When I served in the Army, the holidays away et more information.<br style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px;"><br style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px;"><span style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px;">Visit an older veteran or wounded vet</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; width: 378px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Contact a nursing home or a veterans hospital. A visit can brighten a day and help a veteran to know they are not forgotten. The <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Walter-Reed-National-Military-Medical-Center/295857217111107?fref=ts" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px;">Walter Reed National Military Center</a> has a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Walter-Reed-National-Military-Medical-Center/295857217111107?fref=ts" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px;">Facebook </a>page that provides inspiration and ideas.<br style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px;"><br></span></p><p style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; width: 378px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Put it in writing</span></p><p style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px; width: 378px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Write a letter of thanks to a military family, those currently in the service or a veteran through <a href="https://www.bluestarfam.org/strengthen/operation-appreciation" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px;">Operation Appreciation</a> and <a href="https://www.bluestarfam.org/" target="_blank" style="line-height: 1.7em; -webkit-font-smoothing: subpixel-antialiased; text-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.00784314) 0px 0px 1px;">Blue Star Families</a>. This organization was founded to connect the civilian population with military families as a bridge to help make military life more sustainable.</span></p><br><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div></body></html>