LETTER: Go ahead, make my day

Dolores McKee of Fort Mohave, Arizona, urged families to adopt a simple gesture of gratitude toward veterans in a letter dated July 13, 2026, at 9:01 p.m. McKee recalled that when her granddaughters were freshmen, a teacher advised them to acknowledge any veteran they encountered “out and about” with a smile and the words, “Thank you for your service.” She noted that the practice began more than eight years ago and that her granddaughters continue to observe it. “I have seen veterans look startled, then blessed—often with tears,” McKee wrote. “What an elemental thing. Tell your family. Ask them to effort it—elemental and important.” She concluded by encouraging others to pass along the habit, emphasizing its lasting impact on both those who give and those who receive the thanks.