OPINION

Unbeknownst to many, May is Military Appreciation Month. We see all the videos on Facebook and YouTube of homecomings, but we forget one of the most important things, to support the ones around us.

Here at Texas A&M – Texarkana, we have plenty of veterans and active duty members on campus. One does not have to go to the Student Veterans Association meetings of the Veterans’ Service Office to know these individuals. One can tell from the manner in which they carry themselves, the way they speak and the attention that they pay to what they say.

These veterans and active members are just as active as many of the non-military students on campus. We see these service members in Student Government meetings, walking around campus, in the fitness center or just sitting on the couches in the lounges on campus. Just like those of us who do not serve, they have families and enjoy a night on the town. The question is, why don’t we ever sit down and say thank you?

Nearly three-fourths of women service members feel under-appreciated.  Many would argue that we send them boxes of supplies and we hold up signs and have bumper stickers on the back of our trucks that say, “We support our troops.” However, support is more than a poster or a bumper sticker.

The best way to show your service members that you support them is from your own actions. If you see someone in uniform, kind gestures are always a way of showing thanks. If you know a service member personally, sit down and talk to them. Ask them about their experiences and show them that you care. When votes are held that concern them, don’t sit at home idly. Go to the booth and show your support. Vote to prevent wars, make the difficult decisions that count. It’s the little things that can show them that we care. Appreciate our service members every day, not just this May.