As you surely know, tomorrow is Veterans Day. In England, Remembrance Day, which was yesterday, is marked by wearing poppies. You may have seen images of the Tower of London covered in red ceramic poppies in honor of the 100th anniversary of the First World War.
In the U.S., however, the tradition is to fly an American flag as a sign of respect. I was interested to learn recently that any flags that are getting threadbare or tattered should be “retired.” This means destroying the flag in a respectful manner, such as cutting it into strips before burning it. Some local organizations, like the Boy Scouts of America, may offer a drop-off service in which you can bring them your old flag and they will take care of the rest.
As you hang up your flag, remember to not let it touch the ground or anything beneath it. Do not use it as bedding or drapery, and be sure it is facing the right way; an upside-down flag is a sign of extreme distress.
Beyond that, it would be a nice gesture to greet any veterans you encounter this week. Maybe buy a coffee for the soldier next to you at Starbucks, or drop off some baked goods at the local VA or recruiting office.