TODAY is Veterans Day, a day we recognize and give thanks for the service and sacrifice of our military veterans, retired and active duty. I think a vast majority of Americans are hypocritical about their gratitude to our vets and active duty military. Too many think telling vets and active military 'Thank you for your service' a couple times of a year is good enough. IT IS NOT. True gratitude to our vets and active military and to the families of those who have died defending our nation would be voting in every election. It would be providing the uniforms and equipment required by our deployed troops for them to be kept safe and to be able to carry out their mission without having to pay for any of it themselves. It would be cutting the waste and cost over-run fraud of the military-industrial complex so that charities benefitting vets and active military would not be necessary. True gratitude would be a fully funded and staffed VA medical system so no soldier or vet would have to petition the system for care and / or have to wait weeks or months for treatment. It would be cutting contracts with war profiteering contractors / mercenaries so soldiers are paid enough that their families do not qualify for SNAP / Food Stamps. TRUE GRATITUDE can be expressed by e mailing your representative and senators and demanding more be done to provide for our vets and active duty, and not just once a year. If this post expresses your views then cut & paste it in your e mails. If not, express yourself, but at lease send your e mails. AND SINCE CHARITIES for our vets and military active duty are necessary here is the list from Charity Navigator of

Highly-Rated Nonprofits Dedicated to Veterans and Military Service Members

Americans love, respect, and honor our troops all year round -- in fact, people donate more than $2.5 billion annually to the over 40,000 American charities with military-related missions. Each November, we set aside a special time to honor the sacrifices our brave military veterans have made. Originally called Armistice Day, Veterans Day falls on the anniversary of World War I. The holiday was renamed in 1954 to honor the service of all military members.

Charity Navigator is honored to provide a curated list of highly-rated organizations providing a variety of services, including mental health and supportive services, financial assistance for food, utilities, and medical expenses. We hope that you will consider supporting one of the many organizations on the list below.

To nonprofits: If you are a 3- or 4-Star rated nonprofit providing support to active members of the military and veterans, please complete this survey for your organization to be reviewed for this list. We hope to greatly expand our list of charities presented.

Wounded Troops Services

Military Social Services

Military Family Support

Wounded Troops Services charities address the unique difficulties those injured in combat face.