One good way to celebrate National Vietnam War Veterans Day is to find an observance led by #veterans in your area. #Vietnam Veterans of America and other groups will host solemn events at memorials nationwide to recognize #service and #sacrifice. In Walla Walla, Washington, for example, veterans and friends will meet at the local memorial for coffee, donuts and Vietnam War-era music, as well as a small display of classic cars. Google “National Vietnam Veterans Day events near me” to find an observance in your area and #support your local veterans. #NationalVietnamVeteransDay
Tag: events
Holiday Traditions Around the World
Though you might not know it to look at the ads, stores and events, the #holidays mean more than #Christmas alone. In fact, nearly every faith and most cultures around the world will observe festive winter #holiday #traditions this month.
Hanukkah is currently underway, a #celebration that commemorates a rebellion in Judea that saw the Maccabees retake and rededicate the Temple in Jerusalem. More than 2,000 years later, The Organizing Blog hopes that peace can prevail this holiday.
A growing tradition in the United States, Kwanzaa is modeled after traditional African harvest festivals. The seven-day celebration begins the day after Christmas and lasts until the new year, with each day representing principles of faith, family and community.
Buddhists celebrate Bodhi Day on Dec. 8 each year to celebrate Siddhartha Gautama’s spiritual enlightenment under the sacred Bodhi tree in the 5th century B.C. The day is observed with meditation, acts of kindness and often a humble meal of tea and cake.
Observations of the winter solstice go back to the Stone Age. Pagans celebrate the longest night of the year at Stonehenge, thought to be a celestial “clock” due to the arrangement of its stones, but the event is also celebrated by the Hopi and with holidays in China, Sweden and Iran.
Avid #declutterers and Orthodox Christians may wish to celebrate a pre-Christmas holiday, St. Nicholas Day. Symbolizing good deeds that Santa Claus’ inspiration was known for such as giving away his possessions, the day is associated with acts of service such as volunteering, sharing and raising money for charity.
And let’s not forget the anti-Christmas of Krampusnacht. Krampus — the goat-like evil twin of Santa — appears on Dec. 5 in Central Europe to remind children to be nice during the holidays or risk the penalty of being snatched and eaten.
The modern practice of getting a bucket of fried chicken at KFC on Christmas Eve notwithstanding, The Organizing Blog’s favorite Japanese winter holiday tradition is likely Omisoka, a New Year’s Eve celebration centered around a household #deep-cleaning.
However you choose to #celebrate, The Organizing Blog wishes you and yours a safe and happy holiday season!
Help Veterans on National POW/MIA Recognition Day
To observe National POW/MIA Recognition Day, attend a local memorial event, visit the grave of a veteran or spend some personal time with a former POW or veteran. Veterans appreciate the recognition; visit the local veterans home or hospital to spread good cheer or contribute to veterans. ClothingDonations.org makes it easy to #donate to #veterans causes — simply contact it to arrange a #free #donation #pickup of used #clothing and #household goods. We’ll resell that lightly used, unwanted stuff and give the money to a range of programs that help veterans of every U.S. conflict. #POW/MIA
The Search for MIA Service Members Continues
Since 1973, the remains of more than 1,000 Americans killed during the Vietnam War have been identified and returned to their families for burial with full military honors, according to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). Some 1,578 Americans still remain unaccounted-for, including hundreds that may be non-recoverable — deceased without recoverable remains. However, DPAA continues to work with the governments of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia to investigate leads and locate MIAs, successfully identifying five Vietnam-era service members since National POW/MIA Recognition Day last year. #POW/MIA
VVA’s National POW/MIA Recognition Day Proclamation
The Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) issued a proclamation on National POW/MIA Recognition Day 2022, promising to “continue the righteous work of bringing home our heroes who remain unaccounted for. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we pledge to seek out answers for the families of service members still missing in action [and] commit to doing all in our power to identify and recover America’s missing sons and daughters. And we pay tribute to former prisoners of war — individuals who exhibited remarkable courage, love of country, and devotion to duty to protect our Nation’s safety and freedoms.” #POW/MIA