This Memorial Day, Show Appreciation To A Veteran

(SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.) During and immediately after the Civil War, it was the custom in many communities to honor the casualties by decorating their graves.

Not too long after the end of the Civil War, May 30 was set aside as a national holiday to honor all veterans., according to the website www.memorialday.org.

Since 1971, when Congress changed the date of the holiday to the last Monday in May, many people have lost sight of the original focus, the website notes. Still, at many cemeteries, people have an opportunity to show appreciation for veterans each Memorial Day, either by decorating graves with flowers, or by participating in ceremonies by local veteran’s groups.

But how about the veterans who are still living? Why not honor them with a special gift this Memorial Day?

For those who want to say thanks to a living veteran, and also help support the perpetual care of those who have passed on, a great gift choice is a custom-designed basket, mug or other container with a patriotic theme from The Bountiful Basket. This southern California gift basket company fills its gifts with unique and hard-to-find items, and can decorate the container with many colors of ribbon, including red, white and blue.

For any baskets sold with that patriotic color scheme, owner Marilyn Taylor donates a portion of the sales price to the Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee. The Riverside National Cemetery, located next to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, is a national cemetery for veterans and their dependants.

“It is a cause near and dear to my heart,” Taylor said. “My dad is a veteran; he was in the Army-Air Force (the predecessor to today’s Air Force) during World War II. So, I know what sacrifices our veterans have made to protect our freedoms.”

The Bountiful Basket’s website, www.thebountifulbasket.com has a section showing some of the patriotic gifts Taylor and her team can make.

“For instance, the “Patriotic Coffee Break” is designed with the fanfare of a patriotic parade,” Taylor said. It contains biscotti, cookies, chocolates, coffee or cocoa and, in the large-size model, a patriotic mug. For smaller budgets, some of these goodies can be packaged with equally festive red, white and blue ribbons in the mug itself.”

Patriotic gifts can also be packaged in less traditional containers, like a child’s red wagon. Taylor fills them with tea, cinnamon, hard candies, peanuts, popcorn, sunflower seeds, cookies and more.

“This gift, which I call a Patriotic Welcome Wagon, epitomizes the American spirit,” Taylor said. “It is a great gift to say thank you to someone who has served in our armed forces, or one who simply loves the Red, White and Blue.”

The Red, White and Blue gifts are not just for Memorial Day, but whenever anyone buys them, a portion of the sale goes to the Riverside National Cemetery Support Committee.

“Many times, sons and daughters of a veteran will buy their dad these gifts for Fathers’ Day or their birthday, just to say thanks and I love you,” she said. “The patriotic gifts are also popular during election season.”

Whatever the occasion, The Bountiful Basket has more than 250 different baskets to choose from, $10 to $500. These are grouped by themes, such as holidays, corporate, children’s and teenagers’ baskets, college students’ designs, and gifts with different varieties of products within.

But, if none of those designs are exactly what you’re looking for, The Bountiful Basket can custom-make the perfect gift that you will be proud to give and will fit within your budget.

For more information, go to the website, or call Taylor at (909) 425-2203.

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