11 Original Ways to Honor the Troops

Writing letters to troops is a great thing, but you might feel like doing something different this time around. I mean, how many times can you draw that American flag inside of a heart, right? That's why we jotted down some ideas that show some true originality.

• Bring flowers to a soldiers' cemetery.
• Adopt a soldier you know. If you know someone shipping out or currently deployed, get a group together and stick to a schedule of keeping constant contact with him or her.
• Donate DVDs or CDs to soldiers abroad. Everyone just needs some entertainment to help them chill.
• Host a potluck to honor veterans and servicemembers. Invite troops to the event, and organize which civilian guests will bring which dish.
• We know you're a GLEEK/Band Geek. Get your musical group to perform at a local veterans hospital.
• Collect thank you's for the troops and display them at a public event. You could use a projector to show the messages at a football game, after a religious service, during a school assembly, etc.
• Create a memorial for fallen troops that everyone in your community can view.
• Lead a presentation for younger grades in your school. Present facts about PTSD and other veteran issues that your audience can help fight.
• Use chalk to cover the sidewalks with creative messages of thanks near a military base or a veterans facility.
• Start a blog where soldiers can send in testimonies and experiences for your online audience to read.
• If you're still set on mailing letters, include something extra—stuff in current feel-good news articles, magazine clippings, or maybe even paper planes.

Visit our troops section for more ways to honor past and present US soldiers.