( CNN ) -- `` What day is Veterans Day ? '' It was a simple question my colleague asked me a few weeks ago . I was startled , then a little horrified . I wondered how anyone could not know when America officially honors military Veterans . When I was growing up , and even now , every day is Veterans Day . My dad was a veteran of Korea and three combat tours in Vietnam . He never talked about his military service but it was the phantom of my childhood . He had an explosive temper and terrible nightmares . He drank too much and yelled even more . He never held a job for more than a year or two , if at all , and looking back now , I realize he must have suffered terribly . But he loved America , his kids and happy hours at the VFW . He hated hippies , foreign cars and people who belittled the armed forces . Red , white and blue were his favorite colors . He carried his service around in his heart , his mind and in the metal shrapnel scattered in his body until the day he died . For him , every day was Veterans Day , because he lived his time at war in some way every day . It 's a family tradition . My father 's father fought in the trenches of Europe in World War I , my uncles served in World War II . My brother Ole joined the Marines when he was 17 and now , 35 years later , he is still serving . Although he does n't talk about his time in Iraq and Afghanistan , he , like my dad , carries his service in his heart and his mind . My brother always says his heroes are the Marines he lost in Iraq . To this day , he honors those men by staying in touch with their families and keeping their memories alive . Every day will always be Veterans Day for him . My niece Susie is a private in the Army . She joined straight out of high school . I dread the day when she , too , will come home from a far off land wounded on the inside or out , when Veterans Day is every day for her , too . I am like most Americans . I have never fought in a war , never smelled fear and ammunition in combat , never worried about being blown up by a roadside bomb . We need to remember those who fought for our country while we stayed safe , out of the crossfire . The Veterans Administration says there are 23 million living U.S. Veterans . They could be your co-workers , neighbors and friends . Even if you do n't know anyone who has served in the armed forces , there are some small things you can do to let them know you appreciate their service . How you can help a Veteran any day . California-based Operation Gratitude sponsors programs honoring veterans year-round with care packages that include handwritten letters . There are directions on their website . The group sends care packages to VA hospitals , veterans nursing homes , veterans groups and other support organizations . You can also create your own care package for a VA Hospital . Donations of magazines , coffee or cookies , new or gently used clothing and telephone cards are always welcome . Contact your local VA Hospital for more information on what 's needed in your community . According to the VA , a little more than a fifth of the adult homeless population has served in the military . The VA has a National Call Center for Veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless . The center provides free 24/7 access to trained counselors . Call 1-877-4AID VET ( 1-877-424-3838 . ) In Washington and other cities , some organizations are working to help Homeless Veterans . `` Veterans do n't always ask for help . There 's a lot of pride , '' says Christy Respress , executive director of Pathways to Housing DC . Pathways works with MIriam 's Kitchen to identify veterans who need help and get them off the street . They do this by getting them into permanent housing and providing them with psychological help and other services . These are just a few ways to help make every day Veterans Day . There are so many more things you can do in your own community . Not just on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month , but a daily Armistice in our hearts .
Veterans Day is Sunday , September 1 . ` ` Veterans do n't always ask for help . There 's a lot of pressure , '' says one of aid workers . There are ways to help Veterans every day .