A simple Thank You in passing is sufficient. Even if you can’t get up close enough for them to hear the words, here is a very simple way to tell them Thank You from a distance:

The Military are the First Responders for the whole country. Anyone who has committed themselves to protect and save our lives from anywhere in the world deserves our Thanks. National Thank You Day on May 19th is intended to start that daily habit for the First Responders here in our nation.

Showing that gratitude to ALL of our First Responders is very simple.

“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other”.
Randy Pausch
The Last Lecture

May 19th
1. Put signs in yards and windows – May 16th to May 18th suggested
2. Deliver cards, posters & banners (and treats)
3. Take plenty of pictures
4. Smile and say Thank You

After Thank You Day
1. Send photos to Markellyc@comcast.net
2. Send details on what worked and what didn’t and, any ideas you have for the next Thank You Day also to Markellyc@comcast.net
3. Start planning for May 19th 2012

The Thank You days that promote thanking people that do good deeds or a particular type of research, and that are promoted by a brand of chocolate or TV show, are/were fun for those that took part but, they don’t support the purpose of National Thank You Day.

Some focus on activities in a country other than the United States.

A couple of the days of Thanks do align with the foundational idea of National Thank You Day but, they are for one state only. Not the full U.S.

Some started out with enthusiasm but, didn’t carry on to a fully acknowledged day that everyone knows about. They haven’t fully bloomed yet.

There are a couple weeks that honor particular groups of First Responders and all that they do.

National EMS week and National Police week are 100% here to stay and deserve full participation across the U.S. Both weeks embody the spirit of which National Thank You Day was created.

Interestingly enough, National Thank You Day, on May 19th, falls right in them both.

A day to thank and honor ALL First Responders happens during a week dedicated to the Police and during a week dedicated to EMS across the United States. A perfect coincidence.

National Thank You Day being on May 19 not only falls in two very important weeks, it also avoids “commemorating” a day of tragedy that a First Responder was a victim of. I doubt any of those people that died in the line of duty would wish the day they died had inspired a day to honor all First Responders everywhere.

May 19th is also far enough into the school year that teachers can fully incorporate educating students about the duties these amazing people dedicate themselves to doing. Teaching a respect for First Responders at an early age may stave off the fear and disrespect that seems to be prevalent today.

May 19th is also far enough away from many major holidays so all attention can be focused on Thanking these amazing people and the activities that are done to celebrate the day won’t be in competition with other holidays.

Enthusiasm for National Thank You Day is growing on a daily basis.

You are invited to join in!

Especially those stories that generate great photo opportunities and/or footage. The media eagerly seeks them out. National Thank You Day is an amazing opportunity for them to add that heartwarming touch they need to balance out the rest that they report.

You would be doing them a favor by letting them know when and where to go to get what they are looking for.

They would be doing National Thank You Day a huge favor by letting everyone know about Thank You Day and helping it to grow.

The more people that learn about National Thank You Day, the more people come on board. Let’s help the media help us!

The best way to get the job done is to make a list of all the places that signs will be put up, thank you cards delivered, and anything else that’s being done. Add to that list the times they will be happening and you’ll be surprised and who might show up to meet you!

A simple search of each TV channel, local talk show, or newspaper’s web site will net you the contact information you need to get that list to them.

Send that list of where and when’s to every news paper and channel in your area. You can also send that list to any other groups that might want to join you!

Then, put up those signs and make those deliveries!

Let’s make National Thank You Day and everyone creating it, a STAR!!

Many say that Every Day is Earth Day and they are so right.

What started as an idea many years ago has grown into a Day that means so much to all nationwide. That idea started as a grassroots effort. That grassroots effort grew into a day that has inspired a daily habit to take care of our Earth. A daily habit that we are reminded to keep by that one day.

April 22rd is Earth Day. Every Day is Earth Day.

May 19th is Thank You Day.

What is a grassroots effort now is growing into a daily habit to show the heroes among us how grateful we are to have them by our side. Thanking and honoring First Responders every day starts with one day.

That day is May 19th. Every Day is National Thank You Day.

Let’s start.

Don’t let that stop you from doing everything you can to Thank them!

If you think about it, how do you feel when someone Thanks you? I’m sure it’s just a little bit better than if you hadn’t been thanked. Even if all you did was pick up a piece of trash. A Thank You makes a difference.

Don’t we want these people, who run towards what the rest of us run away from, feeling as happy and empowered as we can get them? Don’t we want them to crack a smile every once and a while?

They help us so, let us help them.

It’s worth repeating…

Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.

Randy Pausch
The Last Lecture

Let’s start the habit of showing how thankful we are they are there, every day. That habit starts on and continues from May 19th.

Another option would be Professionally made ones. They will last and last. They can be signed in permanent ink by many to personalize them as you please. The sign that’s displayed at the top here, with “Thank You For All That You Do” printed in a deep blue and white on a white and vivid red background is one that has been designed and produced by Advanced Sign Design in Seattle, Washington. They will ship them anywhere they are needed.

They can be placed in yards, median strips down many streets and out in front of Police and Fire stations everywhere. They will last you for years of National Thank You Days to come.
To get your own, contact:

Jeffrey D Thompson
President

Advanced Sign Design Inc
6501 6th Ave. NW.
Seattle, WA 98117

www.AdvancedSignDesign.net
Phone – 206 789 6051
Fax – 206 789 6218

Ask  for: ‘Kelly Clark’s Thank You sign”
__________________________________________________________________
Patches are often a fun way to commemorate participation in National Thank You Day. A 1” x 2” Thank You Day patch has been created by Perfect Patches. They are white lettering on a blue and red background that says: Thank You Day 2011
Again, ask Chris for Kelly Clark’s Thank You Day patch at:

http://www.perfectpatches.com

sales@perfectpatches.com
866 728 2484

ALL First Responders everywhere.
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What? – Thank them. Honor them and show them gratitude for being who they are and for doing what they have chosen to do.
In chapter 41 of The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch, he says, “Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.”

A little acknowledgement goes quite a long way.
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Where? - Anywhere and everywhere. Depending on the method of delivery, communicating the Thank You can be done anywhere you run across these amazing people. In passing when you see them on their daily routines on the job or in life. The places they begin and end their day (or night) of work. Where they take their breaks. Signs or posters in your yards, on your cars, on street corners and sides of roads. Anywhere they might see you or you might see them.

Note: DO NOT interrupt them when they are doing their job.
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Why? – We want these people to know how glad we are that they are there. They have been taken for granted for far too long. Every time we run into trouble, we assume that all we need to do is call 911 and they will be there.
We want them to know how grateful we are that they ARE there.
Also, we want our kids to grow up without the disrespect and fear they have been taught and has been “fashionable” to show them. Sometimes a good example of respect, honor and gratitude needs to be set. Good examples plant the seed for more.
A trend needs to be started.
Why May 19th? – May 19th was chosen as a day that’s late into the school year and is not surrounded by many other holidays.
Many holidays or days of recognition are on days of birth. Days that were the beginning of someone or something. Possibly Thank You Day should be on a day that the first police department began or the day the first fire department formed.
Other Days of Thanks that are created for a state wide day of honor, can be days that have a special significance to that state.
The evolution of a very important day continues.
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When? – May 19th and EVERY DAY.
Appreciating these dedicated people should be a daily occurrence.
The daily habit starts on, and continues from May 19th.
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How? – The list is long. Ideas are spreading and will continue to grow. List of ideas:
• Deliver treats. Make sure they are packaged in a bakery or factory container. Home baked goods may seem more personal but, since we may be strangers to them, they won’t be comfortable with home baked goods.
• Buy a gift card at a local coffee shop and ask to leave it behind the counter to pay for the beverages or snacks that anyone in uniform that stops in for.
• Create Thank You cards, posters, banners, signs, etc. Deliver them to their places of work along with lots of smiles and thank you’s.
• Put Thank You signs up in your front yards, windows, on street corners, on cars, etc. Anywhere you think they might be seen. Signs in car windows need to be small! Don’t risk needing them on the day we are thanking them.
• Blue and red lights can light up your windows and homes so the thanks will last into the night.
• Hold big posters and banners on street corners and encourage everyone to honk and wave to say thanks!
• A smile and “Thank You” in passing will always be appreciated.
• There are many scouting groups and other organizations that sell treats to fundraise for their endeavors. Often you can purchase an item or two to be held until someone in uniform stops buy. Please remember that most organizations have their own program that donations are accepted for and don’t let a surprise gift to an Emergency Responder take away from your donations to these organizations. An additional surprise would be well received.
• The purchases from the above organizations can also be delivered to the places these amazing people work.

The list of ideas can go on and on. Please add your ideas here to show how easy it is to thank First Responders everywhere.

Stay tuned for more ideas and suggestions.

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