It could be my response to one of those icebreaker games: People don’t know that I...am a proud member of the Disabled American Vets Auxiliary. I'm a member because of one night during WWII when my dad’s lungs and leg were burned from mustard gas that leaked from the train he was guarding as a U.S. Army soldier. Dad sustained permanent scars because he didn't abandon his post. Like a lot of members of the military, my dad doesn’t think anything he did during his years of service warrants “thanking.” “I was just doing my job,” he always says.

But especially this time of year, many people want to show support for the men and women who are serving or who served in the U.S. military. Want to help? The U.S. Department of Defense offers a list of organizations that can send your care package, card, or letter to troops. Or e-mail the troops a holiday greeting and thank you. Some of the nearly 255,000 e-mail messages sent so far are particularly heartwarming to read. And be sure to check out the video messages from service members deployed around the world.

Veterans also should be remembered during the holidays. You could visit vets at your local VA hospital or nursing home, or simply mail a holiday greeting to local VA hospital patients or local VFW or American Legion members. If you know any veterans, you might show your appreciation by offering to get them some groceries, mailing or e-mailing them holiday cards, inviting them over for a holiday meal, or even just shoveling their walk.

Need more ideas? Visit DoD community relations or “101 Ways to Thank a Veteran.”

Have you thanked a military member or veteran this holiday season? I’d love to hear from you.

Note: Gov Gab may be unavailable this weekend due to server maintenance.

My nephew, Tony, recently completed basic training at Lackland Air Force Base. I attended the graduation ceremony with his mom, grandma, and his younger brother who flew down from Iowa to show Tony that they love and support him. There were a lot of families there to show support for the young women and men on the day they would take the Air Force oath and officially become airmen.

As the trainees marched onto the field and then marched past us in formation, it was very difficult to spot my nephew. Other than differing heights, the guys are all thin, wearing the same uniform, and pretty much bald (Who knew that hair is so important in being able to recognize another person). My younger nephew exclaimed, “It's like trying to find Waldo!”

It was the first time I had been to such an event and I was impressed. The base commander led the oath and as these trainees repeated the oath, I got goosebumps and a little emotional. To see so many young people choosing to serve their country and possibly someday risking their lives for their country was one of those “wow” moments.

Saturday, is Armed Forces Day. It is a day that was established so that the citizens of the United States could come together to thank the service men and women of the armed forces for their dedication and commitment in supporting our country. If you are interested in historical details, here is an Armed Forces Day photo archive from previous years.

There are many ways that you can show your appreciation. To see what events are planned in your state, use this USA.gov search events results page. To narrow your search, add your state in the search box and select the “Search” button. You don't have to attend an official event to show your support. You may send a message, check out the America Reaches Out state map, or these homefront support groups.

Please join me and the GovGab bloggers in expressing your deepest appreciation to all of the brave women and men who have dedicated themselves in military service to our country.

In 1980, my oldest sister joined the Navy after graduating from high school. It was an emotional thing for my parents to watch their oldest daughter, not only leave the nest for boot camp, but to eventually leave the country for exotic destinations. The whole military experience was a complete unknown for my parents. It was especially difficult back then because we didn’t have the internet to stay connected. Their only communication with my sister was via letters and a rare overseas phone call to keep in touch.

Now my youngest sister is about to go through the same experience with her oldest son, Tony, who joined the Air Force. He finished community college, but seemed to be undecided what to do next. With our country’s economic troubles, he decided his best option was to join the military and get more education and skills. He heads for boot camp at Lackland Air Force base here in San Antonio at the end of this month.

The military way of life has its own culture and community that most people are not familiar with. I know my sister is worried. She doesn’t know what to expect. The good news is that there are all kinds of resources and information available to her now that weren’t around for my parents when our oldest sister enlisted.

The FAQ on joining the military provides links and phone numbers if your child or loved one is considering enlisting. The Military Home Front, the Consumer Action Handbook military page, and Family Support for Active Military Personnel contain links to information explaining benefits and other important topics.

These private resources have created wonderful communities for parents and loved ones to learn and share experiences among military families:

• Milspouse.org
• Your Soldier Your Army
• Mom’s Field Guide
• Marine Parents
• Today’s Military
• Supporting our Troops
• Navy For Moms

Getting informed about the military and becoming part of the parents-with-military-kids community may help ease some of my sister’s fears. Not everyone has a positive military experience, but I am hopeful that enlisting will be a good experience for Tony. I hope it will help him focus and give him a plan for the future. Do you think enlisting in the military at this time is a good thing or something he will regret?

Today is Veterans Day, a holiday intended to thank veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. The Census Bureau tells us that we’ve got around 23 million veterans in the United States.

The history of Veterans Day dates back to the end of World War I. November 11 was declared "Armistice Day" in 1919 by President Woodrow Wilson to honor the soldiers of World War I. After World War II, the holiday was recognized as a day of tribute to veterans of both world wars. Beginning in 1954, the United States designated November 11 as Veterans Day to honor veterans of all U.S. wars.

On Veterans Day, I always think of my favorite Veteran - my dad, who served in the Navy during World War II and the Korean War. He passed away a few years ago and is buried in a Veterans Cemetery along with so many others. If you know of someone who is buried in a Veterans Cemetery, but you don’t know quite where to find them, try the Veterans’ grave site locator.

Many towns and communities across America plan events to honor local veterans and the National Veterans Day Observance is held each year at Arlington National Cemetery where veterans and other exceptional individuals from the Revolutionary War to the present military action in Iraq and Afghanistan are buried. The National Park Service preserves many battlefields, military parks, and historic sites that commemorate and honor the service of American veterans and will offer free admission on Veterans Day to veterans and active military.

What will you do to observe Veterans Day?

Did you know that the U.S. has nearly 24 million war veterans? This Sunday is Veterans Day and it’s time, once again, to honor the men and women who protect our country’s freedom. The first Veterans Day was November 11, 1919 and initially, we called it Armistice Day to honor those who died serving our country in World War I. However, in June 1954, the 83rd Congress passed a law to change the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day in order to honor American veterans of all wars.

My family has quite a few veterans – at least 13 that I can think of – and that’s just going back 2 generations. They’ve served in World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, and Iraq and Afghanistan. One side of my family has created a beautiful granite memorial on a family plot of land on the Missouri River commemorating the service of all the veterans in our family. They also donated a memorial lectern to the Springfield, SD cemetery in honor of local war veterans and my Great Uncle Peter who was killed at Heartbreak Ridge in the Korean War. The remembrance on the lectern is so true: “For those who fought for it, freedom has a special flavor the protected will never know.” One of my favorite memories with my Grandpa Don was when he and my Grandma came to visit Washington, DC one year for an American Legion convention. We visited the Korean War Memorial together and although he didn’t share a lot about his experience or memories, seeing that memorial moved him to tears. What a sacrifice he must have made if more than 50 years later it can still bring up such strong emotions. After that day I’ve felt so much closer to him.

Remember that the federal government will officially honor veterans on Monday, November 12 and federal offices will be closed that day.  Please honor the veterans in your life on Sunday by sending them an e-card or doing something nice to show you remember the sacrifices they made. I can assure you; even a gesture that seems small to you may mean more to that veteran than you’ll ever know.