In honor of Memorial Day, we put the #1 best-selling American Flag Bandana – the Old Glory Hoo-rag, on sale. For every one sold, we donated $1 to Wishes for Warriors.
Wishes for Warriors is a veteran-run, volunteer-operated, 100% non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to returning hope and passion back into the lives of our combat wounded heroes through therapeutic outdoor adventures. Their mission is to show these heroes that whether wounded of body or mind, they are still able to live out their passions – through the love of hunting, fishing, skydiving, or anything that makes them feel alive again!
Military Focused Hoos
Often, people new to Hoo-rag wonder how we came to have so many patriotic bandana and neck gaiter designs. Some things we do around here are by accident (like causing outdoor obsessions), but our focus on patriotism and tactical apparel is not accidental.
Our company is proudly veteran-owned. Loving our land, flag, and fellow countrymen is part of who we are. Anything we can do for vets, we try our best to make it happen. And we think making cool gear that looks awesome while helping them beat the heat is a great way to do it.
The best thing is that there are tons of ways to give back to those who gave so much, as you’ll see below.
Wishes For Warriors Fundraiser And Beyond
The more opportunities we find for helping America’s military veterans, the more it leads to discovering new campaigns. And not just on Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, or the 4th of July. A few programs you may have never heard of but are helping daily with donated services are:
- Brazilian Jiu-jitsu training to deal with PTSD.
- Program that assists with clothing modifications for soldiers with severe injuries.
- Training farms that offer peace and meaning for veterans seeking an agricultural career.
- Austin, TX has made an all-out assault on the issue of veteran homelessness with astounding results.
We hope to see some of our patriotic designs on men and women who are shedding stress in a dojo or a field full of corn blowing in the wind. Lord knows it gets hot out in the garden, especially when your grandma won’t let you take a water break, but let’s not go there. Let’s do check out a few designs that would look perfect on a guardian of American soil:
- Simplicity meets sun protection with this black and white flag design.
- Bass fishing can help anyone cast away stress.
Road race charities will never be the same after runners rock Old Glory compression sleeves.
Other Soldier Support Ideas
The easiest way to show support for a veteran is to say thank you when you get the chance. Writing letters to VA hospitals works too. It means more than you know. Also, it’s not hard to find a local organization that accepts donations for the betterment of our military families. Just be sure you don’t get scammed – always go through official channels.
Soldiers, especially leaders, are prime targets for identity thieves who use images posted online to create fake accounts. ~Official US Army Website
Many people have donated clothing, cars, even boats to various legit charities. Donation centers get pretty creative and… nothing wrong with a tax write-off the donor receives. Even school kids get in on the action when they send off care packages to Marines sleeping in foreign lands out in the elements.
If you’re thinking about sending care packages, you don’t have to wait on a hall pass. Here are 7 unique items beyond the essentials that can make a soldier’s day:
- Earbuds – they work out a ton, music helps.
- Durable small artwork.
- DVDs – Netflix struggles in the middle of nowhere.
- A Hoo-rag power pack – arm sleeves, gaiter, headband, etc. Great gift for the soldiers in your family too.
- Board games – for bored defenders of the world during downtime.
- Beef jerky – the good stuff.
- Journal – proven to counteract many negative effects of stress.
Imagine What We Could Do
As a nation, we could do so much more for our military heroes. Not to mention patriotic families who have lost loved ones. Depending on politicians to do the right thing is usually a letdown and government moves slower than Alaskan molasses. But grassroots patriotism can make huge impacts with donations, support of veteran-owned local businesses, gifts for soldiers, and mindful appreciation.
If you’ve helped out with programs like the Wishes For Warriors fundraiser, thank you. And take heart with a quote from their site – “Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.”
Especially when you do it for often forgotten heroes who’ve made what should be unforgettable sacrifices.