5 Ways You Can Honor Members of the U.S. Armed Forces on Veterans Day
In 2017, there were 18.2 million veterans living in the United States, with roughly 50% of those veterans being over the age of 65. These brave men and women can be found among our grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, and partners. And, every year on November 11th, we take the time to honor and thank them for the sacrifices they’ve made to protect the United States.
Founded in 1919, a year after the end of World War I, Veteran’s Day (or Armistice Day as it was then known) became a national holiday to recognize all American veterans, living or deceased, and the sacrifices they have made for our country.
Whether you are a veteran, know a veteran, or simply want to show your support, you can spend November 11th honoring those who served or are still serving our country. Here are five ways how:
1. Fly an American flag
Whether or not you are a veteran, consider displaying a flag to show your support for the veterans in your community or around the country. Hanging a flag outside of your house (or wearing one on your lapel) is a time-honored way of showing your pride and gratitude for our service members. If you are going to display an outdoor flag, be sure to observe proper flag etiquette.
2. Saying “thank you” goes a long way
If you know a veteran, take the time to say thank you for their service. A simple phone call, text message, or email to let someone know you are thinking about them can mean a great deal to the recipient. Or, if you have more time, send a handwritten thank you note or care package. This gesture may not seem like a lot to you, but a showing of your gratitude could make all the difference in the life of a veteran.
3. Spend some time with a veteran
And speaking of brightening a veteran’s day, why not spend the day with a service member? Take them out for a cup of coffee, a walk around their neighborhood, or dinner at their favorite restaurant. You can even prepare some questions about their time in the military (but remember to be respectful of their privacy). Most of all, remember that this time is about them and you only want to show your appreciation!
4. Observe the National Two Minutes of Silence
Wherever you are at 2:11 PM EST, take two minutes to reflect on the impact that the men and women of the armed forces have had on our country. If you know a veteran, think about the difference they have made in your life. This two-minute period takes place at the same time nationally depending on individual time zones.
5. Be part of the #BeThere Campaign
According to research, for veterans age 55 to 74 years old, the rate of suicide is 26 per 100,000. The #BeThere initiative, launched by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, brings awareness to the number of veterans who have taken their own lives. The #BeThere campaign reminds people that everyone can make a difference in preventing suicide by doing things like calling an old friend or checking in with a neighbor.
Stand United this Veterans Day
It doesn’t matter if you have five minutes or five hours to spare, you can make a huge difference in a veteran’s life this November 11th. Remember, it’s not so much about what you do but that you make an effort to do something.
In recognition and appreciation of the sacrifices made by the men and women who have served in our country’s armed forces, Reverse Mortgage Funding proudly offers a Veteran Discount Program for older service members seeking a reverse mortgage. The discount program is available to anyone who can provide proof of service and may entitle veterans and their spouses (including the spouses of deceased veterans) a discount of up to $450 towards appraisal costs on their reverse mortgage.†
If you are age 62 or older and a homeowner, a reverse mortgage can be a smart financial tool that can give you more financial freedom and security in retirement. A reverse mortgage lets you borrow against your home equity, while still retaining ownership of your home. As with any mortgage, you must meet your loan obligations, keeping current with property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. With a federally-insured* Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, you can choose to receive a lump-sum payment, a monthly payment, or a line of credit, so you have cash at your disposal if and when you need it. Borrowers who elect a fixed rate loan will receive a single disbursement lump sum payment. Other payment options are available only for adjustable rate mortgages.
Another option is an Equity Elite reverse mortgage loan, available exclusively through Reverse Mortgage Funding as the lender.‡ This fixed-rate loan option is designed for homeowners and homebuyers as young as 60|| in certain states, specifically for higher-value homes, condominiums, and those looking for lower up-front costs.
To learn more, call Reverse Mortgage Funding at 888-277-1567. We’ll set up a convenient in-person appointment with an experienced local loan specialist who can answer all your questions and walk you through the process.
This content is sponsored by RMF, one of the nation’s leading reverse mortgage lenders. We are dedicated to helping older Americans retire more freely, in the comfort of their own homes. As a result of our commitment to providing an extraordinary and positive customer experience, we have earned a 98% customer satisfaction rating; a 5-star / Excellent score on Trustpilot; 4.8 out of 5 stars on LendingTree; and an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Call 888-277-1567 to speak with a licensed reverse mortgage specialist to learn about our retirement financing products and solutions.
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If you have equity in your home and believe you meet the eligibility requirements, a reverse mortgage may be the option that could help you retire smart.
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†RMF’s Veterans Discount Program is subject to change or cancellation at any time and without notice. This program offering can only be redeemed with Reverse Mortgage Funding LLC. Consumer must pay for the appraisal upfront. This program offering is valid for an appraisal credit of up to $450.00 off allowable closing costs. In some instances, the credit may not be valid or may be less due to loan program restrictions. Program offering may not be valid with low cost loan programs or other lender credits. Home Equity Conversion Mortgage offers apply to refinances only. This offer is not available for Home Equity Conversion Mortgage for purchase transactions. This offer is available with RMF’s Equity Elite product. Loans currently in process do not qualify. The credit will be applied at the closing of your mortgage loan with Reverse Mortgage Funding LLC, and it will be shown on the HUD-1 Settlement Statement. Loans must be closed and funded with Reverse Mortgage Funding LLC as the lender. All loans are subject to approval. Program, rates, terms and conditions apply and are subject to change without notice. Program offering is not transferable. No cash value. This program offering is not redeemable for cash or cash equivalents. Not valid with any other discount or promotional offers. Some restrictions apply. Void where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law.
*This material has not been reviewed, approved or issued by HUD, FHA or any government agency. The company is not affiliated with or acting on behalf of or at the direction of HUD/FHA or any other government agency.
‡Equity Elite Reverse Mortgage (“Equity Elite”) is Reverse Mortgage Funding LLC’s proprietary loan program, and it is not affiliated with the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) loan program, which is insured by FHA. Equity Elite is available to qualified borrowers who also may be eligible for FHA’s HECM program or are seeking loan proceeds that are higher than FHA’s HECM program limit. Equity Elite currently is available only for eligible properties in select states. Please contact your loan originator to see if it is currently available in your state.
Upon a maturity event, any non-borrowing individuals with an ownership interest in the property, including non-borrowing spouses, will have a short period of time (for example, 30 days from a due and payable letter or an alternate time specified by the loan servicer if extensions are available under the circumstances) to purchase the property from the estate or, if the non-borrower inherits the property, pay the loan in full using any sources of funds available to them. Any non-borrowing individual, including a non-borrowing spouse, should have a plan to pay off an Equity Elite reverse mortgage upon the borrower’s death or any other maturity event. If the non-borrower is unwilling or unable to purchase the property or pay the loan in full, there is no protection for the non-borrower (including a non-borrower spouse) to maintain an interest in the home or to continue residing in the home past the maturity event and the non-borrower may be evicted upon foreclosure. The FHA HECM program has protections in place for certain non-borrowing parties, so a reverse mortgage applicant with certain non-borrowing parties should strongly consider a FHA-insured HECM loan (see HECM guidelines or ask an RMF representative for details). Under the Equity Elite reverse mortgage loan program, a maturity and/or default event occurs when the last surviving borrower no longer lives in the home as his or her primary residence for at least 12 months, the property charges (including taxes, insurance, or any other property charges) are not paid, required repairs are not completed or the property is not maintained, or any other maturity and/or default event, as specified in the Security Instrument, occurs.
||Not applicable in all states; some states may impose a higher age requirement. Visit www.reversefunding.com/equity-elite for details.
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