Every November and May, my inbox fills with the same thing: brands offering “Veterans Day Deals” and “Memorial Day Mega Savings!” There are 40% off sitewide codes, flash sales on clothing, and emails with flag emojis in the subject line. Many of them come from companies whose affiliate links help pay my bills. And every year, I make the same choice: I don’t share them. You won’t find a sales roundup here on Veterans Day or Memorial Day, and that’s not an accident.
These aren’t shopping holidays. Veterans Day honors the people who served this country. Memorial Day honors those who died doing it. Behind each of those days are real people: service members who missed birthdays, holidays, and first steps; spouses who ran households alone for months at a time; kids who learned to say goodbye far too young; and families who received a folded flag instead of a hug at homecoming. Turning that sacrifice into a reason to save $200 on a new washer and dryer set feels wrong. Our service men and women, and the families who stand behind them, deserve better than to have the only two days of the year we set aside for them reduced to a marketing hook.
So today, it’s quiet here and on my Instagram. Some things are bigger than a promo code, and this is one of them. Today, consider donating to a Veterans charity. I support the Gary Sinise Foundation, which takes care of wounded veterans and the families of the fallen, and the Travis Manion Foundation, which helps veterans find new purpose to combat veterans suicide and is matching donations for the holiday. Don’t just thank a veteran with your words, thank them with your actions.
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