{"id":24070,"date":"2018-07-30T09:00:12","date_gmt":"2018-07-30T09:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freelogoservices.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/30\/ways-to-get-your-small-business-involved-in-purple-heart-day\/"},"modified":"2025-12-31T17:54:54","modified_gmt":"2025-12-31T17:54:54","slug":"ways-to-get-your-small-business-involved-in-purple-heart-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freelogoservices.com\/blog\/ways-to-get-your-small-business-involved-in-purple-heart-day\/","title":{"rendered":"Ways to Get Your Small Business Involved in Purple Heart Day"},"content":{"rendered":"

Veterans Day and Memorial Day aren’t the only national holidays dedicated to honoring troops. August 7 is a time to show appreciation for fallen and wounded servicepeople who have made sacrifices for our freedom.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This lesser-known event is called Purple Heart Day, and you can salute servicepeople in your area by using your business to spread awareness.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Origins of Purple Heart Day<\/h2>\n

More than 1.7 million combat-wounded servicepeople have received the Purple Heart. The medal dates back to 1782, when George Washington created the Badge of Military Merit to acknowledge soldiers who showed courage and valor on the battlefield. Only three soldiers received this early decoration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Support for the award ended after the Revolutionary War, and it wasn’t revived until 1932. Gen. John J. Pershing re-envisioned the merit badge as the Purple Heart, which was limited to living members of the Army and Army Air Corps.<\/span><\/p>\n

By 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt expanded the criteria to include the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard. Military officials also recognized the importance of honoring soldiers who were already deceased and soon made the medal available posthumously.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, the medal is overseen by the Military Order of the Purple Heart and awarded to all members of the armed forces who are killed in action or wounded by opposing troops or friendly fire during an armed conflict. Along with MOPH, the Purple Heart Foundation works to improve the quality of life for combat-wounded veterans and their families.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Do Your Part on Purple Heart Day<\/h2>\n

Do you proudly support U.S. troops? Are you looking for new ways to get involved in your local community? <\/span><\/p>\n

The weeks leading up to Purple Heart Day are a great time to connect with military families and give back to your community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Keep in mind, Purple Heart Day isn’t a commercial holiday. Many veterans experience life-changing injuries in combat and simply value support and understanding from civilians. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, getting involved is about outreach more than promotion. <\/span><\/p>\n

Here are eight ways to acknowledge veterans on Purple Heart Day 2018.<\/h2>\n

Hang Informational Signs<\/h3>\n

Many civilians have never heard of Purple Heart Day because it isn’t a big mainstream event. Use your visibility as a business owner to show others why this day is so important.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you have a brick-and-mortar store, hang signs that explain the meaning and origins of the Purple Heart medal. Include signs that encourage people to perform acts of kindness toward military families in their neighborhood or volunteer with organizations that help veterans.<\/span><\/p>\n

You can also add reminders to your website and <\/span>social media<\/span><\/a> pages. Simple messages, such as “How are you planning to show appreciation on Purple Heart Day?” may spark interest among customers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Share the Stories of Purple Heart Recipients<\/h3>\n

Reach out to Purple Heart recipients and other veterans in your area to share stories of their experiences and acts of valor they witnessed. You can contact a local chapter of MOPH or use email newsletters, social media, and word-of-mouth referrals to get the word out.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’re able to gather a sizeable collection, consider creating a tribute wall in your store. Otherwise, you can make a video for your YouTube channel or put featured stories in a newsletter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Volunteer at a VA Hospital<\/h3>\n

Many business owners find it rewarding and team-building to get their entire staff involved in a community service project. Talk to your employees about volunteering at a VA hospital or a veteran-focused nonprofit on a regular basis.<\/span><\/p>\n

Depending on availability, you can volunteer as a group a few times a month or ask each employee to commit to specific days. That way, your business has an ongoing presence with your chosen organization. <\/span><\/p>\n

You can even<\/span> print up company shirts<\/span><\/a> for team volunteers. Just make sure they’re appropriate for the environment where you’re volunteering.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sponsor a Pet Companion<\/h3>\n

Post-traumatic stress disorder is an all-too-common reality for servicemen and women. Service pets provide a source of unconditional love and comfort for veterans as they work through physical and emotional trauma.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’ve considered sponsoring a pet for a veteran, make it official and sign up this Purple Heart Day. It can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 to train qualified service dogs \u2014 a hefty expense for the average military family. But the option to adopt a service dog is available. According to the ASPCA, there are six to eight million pets waiting to be adopted this year — many of which would be ideal service dogs to vets.<\/span><\/p>\n

Crowdsourced sponsorships make it possible for nonprofits to place fully trained pets with deserving vets at little or no cost to their families. This type of pet adoption can prove to be financially beneficial<\/a> for the owner, as well as save the lives of innocent animals and aids in the termination of puppy mills. In return, you receive updates about the pet’s progress and training. <\/span><\/p>\n

Check out organizations such as <\/span>Hero Dogs<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Pets for Vets<\/span><\/a> for information.<\/span><\/p>\n

Use Purple Heart Day to spread awareness about pet sponsorship if you’re already sponsoring one. You can share photos and details about your sponsored pet on social media while encouraging your followers to sign up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hire a Disabled Vet<\/h3>\n

Can your business reasonably accommodate a disabled employee? Servicepeople often make incredible sacrifices to protect our country and then struggle to support themselves and their families after suffering serious injuries.<\/span><\/p>\n

Contact nonprofits or government agencies that support disabled veterans when you have an available position. For added incentive, the government offers tax credits for hiring veterans. Here are a few places to start your search.<\/span><\/p>\n