Patriotic Gifts for Every Family Member: How to Pick the Right One

For more ideas for the man who served, see our list of veteran gifts that show appreciation. If you are shopping in December, our guide to Christmas gifts for dad has more that he will use.

3. What do you give a military mom or spouse?

Give her something that sees her part in it. The person at home carries the worry, the waiting and the packing of care boxes, and most patriotic gifts are not about her.

• Name her role: Army mom, Navy wife, Marine dad. The branch matters, so check it.
• Pick comfort: something for the quiet morning when she is checking her phone.
• Add a note: one line about how proud you are of her, too.

For a mom with a son or daughter in the Army, the Army Mom mug says what she already feels: "Army Mom. Most people only dream about meeting their heroes. I raised mine."

This one is for Army families only. For another branch, a plain flag design is the safer pick.

4. What patriotic gifts work for kids and teens?

For kids, pick something they can do. For teens, pick something they would wear or carry anyway. A history lesson wrapped as a present rarely gets opened twice.

• Young kids: a picture book about American heroes, a US map puzzle, or a small flag for the parade.
• Grade schoolers: a National Parks sticker book or a kit for a Fourth of July craft.
• Teens: a hoodie or cap with a small stars and stripes detail, or a water bottle for sports.
• All ages: a job on the day, like raising the flag with Grandpa.

Keep the design small for teens. A big slogan across the chest is a gift for the giver, not for them.

5. Is it OK to give a gift with the American flag on it?

Yes. A flag design on a lasting item like a mug, shirt or blanket is widely accepted, but the U.S. Flag Code asks you to avoid a few things. The code is a set of guidelines, not a law with fines, and many families still follow it out of respect.

• Do not use a real flag as clothing, bedding or drapery. The U.S. Flag Code says so directly.
• Skip throwaway items: the code names paper napkins, boxes and anything "designed for temporary use and discard."
• A printed design is different from a flag: a picture of the flag on a mug is not a flag cut up and reused.
• Know your family: if Grandpa is strict about the flag, choose stars, stripes or the colors.

For the person who simply loves the flag, the American Flag mug keeps it simple. It has no words, only a vintage-style flag, so it suits a mom, a host or a neighbor.

6. Which patriotic gift fits which holiday?

Match the gift to what the day is for, because the patriotic holidays do not mean the same thing. Memorial Day and Veterans Day are the two that are easy to mix up.

• Memorial Day: honors those who died in service. Skip cheerful thank-you gifts. Flowers for a grave or a quiet visit fit better.
• Fourth of July: a celebration. Fun gifts for the cookout and the kids belong here.
• Veterans Day: honors everyone who served. This is the day for a thank-you gift to a living veteran.
• Father's Day and Christmas: family days, so a patriotic gift should be about him or her first.

For Veterans Day, the Veteran Definition mug is a plain thank-you. It is written like a dictionary entry and includes the lines "Knows that freedom is never free" and "A hero to their country."

7. How do you make a patriotic gift feel personal?

Add one thing only your family could add: a name, a date, a photo or a few written lines. That is what turns a store item into a keepsake.

• Write a note: say what their service, or their example, has meant to you.
• Frame something real: an old service photo or a letter makes an heirloom the family keeps.
• Give a day out: a parade, a ballgame or a trip to a national park. Veterans and Gold Star Families can get a free Military Lifetime Pass to national parks, so offer to plan the trip.
• Give it together: let each grandchild sign the card.

If the person is not family, such as a neighbor, a new citizen or a coworker, our list of meaningful American gifts has ideas that are less personal and still kind.

Start with the person, pick the day, and keep it simple. If a mug feels right, you can browse our veteran mugs and tumblers for more.