The cover of the Military Heroes photo book I made for my husband

On Memorial Day we honor service members who were killed while defending our country. The holiday also signals the unofficial beginning of the summer season, with many people attending parades, throwing barbecues, and celebrating with friends and family. This three-day weekend is a light-hearted time of fun for some, but for veterans' families like mine, it can be a somber holiday too. It can be difficult to know how to support a veteran with personal ties to the holiday.

I knew I wanted to get my husband, who did two combat tours in Afghanistan, something special for Memorial Day. I browsed for gifts and ideas online, but I didn't find anything that seemed personal enough. Then I saw a Military Heroes photo book template on Mixbook. I knew a Memorial Day photo book would be the perfect gift for my Army hero.

Turning Military Photos into Timeless Memories

As the spouse of a disabled veteran, I don't think it's possible to ever sufficiently thank or honor the combat veterans we know. But I do know that many veterans look back on their military careers as some of the best — and most challenging — times in their lives. Including their military and Memorial Day photos in a personalized book is a great way to help them remember and celebrate their service-related accomplishments.

My husband has hundreds of photos from his time in the military. Some of my favorites are pictures taken during his deployments. We both love traveling and experiencing different cultures, and I love how these photos let me "visit" a unique place he's been. Putting these photos into a military-themed book is a fantastic way to preserve them and put them on display.

*American soldiers in Afghanistan pose with local children gathered outside their base*

The primary thing that drew me to Mixbook's Military Heroes theme was that it had pre-designed pages for each branch of the military. I always love Mixbook's awesome sticker and background library, but I was especially impressed by the graphics on this theme. They included both military-themed graphics and text stickers with words like "Brave" and "Loyal" that capture the spirit of those who serve our country, as well as stickers of dog tags, servicemen raising the flag at Iwo Jima, and camouflage canvas strips.

A soldier sitting in the back of a helicopter over Afghanistan

For my husband's military photo book, I wanted to include both photos that he took of the landscapes of Afghanistan and photos of him, his fellow service members, and the Afghan villagers they worked with.

If you've ever tried to surprise a seasoned veteran, you probably know it's tough to do. I knew I couldn't make the photo book he would want without asking him to send me his favorite photos. I love to catch someone off guard with an unexpected present, but I found it helpful to remember that not all mementos or gifts for veterans need to be a surprise. It's okay to get your recipient in on the creative process. Sometimes it makes the gift all the more precious.

Celebrating My Husband's Service in a Memorial Day Photo Book

The thing I admire most about my husband is that he exemplifies the Army value of selfless service. He never puts himself first, and probably wouldn't make or buy himself a photo book. I wanted to include the Army values in my design, but I'd never used text in a photo book outside of captions. Thankfully, the Mixbook editor made it easy. Not only could I type and format my text just how I wanted, I could also control its orientation so that it fitted perfectly on a blank notebook graphic, which I combined with the perfect photo.

I love how this page turned out. It's simple, but it's powerful too. The photo, taken at a Forward Operating Base in Afghanistan, features my husband and other soldiers. It is a fitting start to the book which honors the sacrifices of the brave men and women who spend months on end away from home doing their best to fulfill our country's missions abroad.

Memorial Day Photos that Honor Veterans

There's another reason I wanted to make a Memorial Day photo book for my husband: I wanted to create a space where I could honor the men he served with who were killed in combat. Six of his friends died during one battle in Afghanistan's Waygal Valley.

I know these men weigh heavy on my husband's heart every day but even more so on Memorial Day. Including photos of the boots-and-rifles display that honored them after their deaths and the Stars and Stripes clipping covering the battle was important to me. I knew it would mean a lot to my husband, who enjoys sharing his memories of these men.

Making such a personal photo book can be emotionally challenging. I certainly shed many tears as I worked on this book. Before I met my husband, I usually associated Memorial Day with cookouts and parties. I knew what the holiday was for — I'd been to Memorial Day services at Veteran's cemeteries with my parents as a child. But, as an adult, I've sometimes associated the holiday with big sales and the Indy 500. I hope that visitors who come to our home will be able to look through this book and be reminded of the extraordinary sacrifices that both Memorial Day and Veteran's Day honor.

Honoring the Veterans in Our Lives with Photo Gifts

Printed photo books and cards make some of the best gifts for veterans because they can be personalized to honor an individual's military service. From unique, military-themed backgrounds to graphics showcasing each branch of the military, Mixbook makes it easy to make a Memorial Day photo book for the veterans in your life. All of the graphics and backgrounds you need are already there. That's why I love Mixbook photo books. They're an engaging, thoughtful way to honor all the veterans in your lives and remember those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice.