Quick Summary:
Veterans valued simple comforts like coffee and letters from home more than we realize. Honor their service by keeping your own family prepared.
Table of Contents
- Why Did Soldiers Say Coffee Kept Them Alive?
- What Made Letters from Home in WWII So Powerful?
- What Field Lessons Can Veterans Teach Us About Preparedness?
- How Can We Honor Veterans by Being Prepared Ourselves?
- What Would a Veteran Want in Your Emergency Kit?
Why Did Soldiers Say Coffee Kept Them Alive?
In 1865, a Union cavalry soldier wrote something that would echo through generations: "Nobody can soldier without coffee."
He was NOT exaggerating.
During the Civil War, Union soldiers received 36 pounds of coffee per year.
In fact, they valued it so highly that in 1859, the Sharps Rifle Company created a rifle with a hand-crank coffee grinder built right into the buttstock.
Soldiers would fill the hollow space with beans, grind them up, and brew coffee before battle.
That’s how important coffee was.
And perhaps one of the most touching stories comes from the Civil War, when a Confederate soldier slipped a note across enemy lines, stating:
“I send you some tobacco and expect some coffee in return…”
Even enemies understood: some comforts transcend conflict.
Today, coffee remains one of the most requested items in care packages to deployed troops. It's not about caffeine alone – it's about routine, normalcy, and warmth when everything else feels uncertain.
Our Franklin's Finest Survival Coffee carries on a tradition that's sustained soldiers for over 150 years.
What Made Letters from Home in WWII So Powerful?
"We couldn't have won the war without it. Mail was indispensable. It was terribly important as a motivator of the troops. Mail call was a delight."
That's how WWII infantryman Paul Fussell described letters from home. Not ammunition. Not rations. Letters.
For soldiers far from home, mail was more than just news – it was proof someone was waiting. It was a reminder of why they were fighting. It was a connection when everything else felt dangerous and disconnected.
That’s why the U.S. government created "V-mail" during WWII, using microphotography to transport millions of letters while saving cargo space. The military understood: morale depends on connection.
During emergencies, communication isn't optional.
When storms knock out power, when disasters disrupt cell towers – staying connected becomes as essential as food and water.
That's why preparedness includes solar-powered radios and power banks that work when the grid doesn't.
The tools have changed since 1945. The need to stay connected never has.
What Field Lessons Can Veterans Teach Us About Preparedness?
Veterans learned survival under the worst conditions. Here's what they taught us:
Mindset and gear work together.
The best gear won't help if you panic, but having reliable, tested equipment builds the confidence that keeps you calm. When you know your water filter works and your supplies are ready, that preparation gives you the mental foundation to handle whatever comes your way.
Simple systems win in a crisis.
Complicated fails under stress. Field coffee required only grounds and hot water. MREs needed no refrigeration. Your emergency plan should be simple enough that anyone in your family can execute it when they're scared or tired.
Water is always priority one.
Ask any veteran what matters most, and the answer is always water. You can ration food and improvise shelter, but there's no substitute for clean water. Start there.
Test before you need it.
Soldiers trained constantly. Don't wait for a power outage to discover dead batteries or gear that won't work. Test everything. Practice your plan.
Don't go it alone.
The buddy system exists because survival improves when you're not solo. Have neighbors who know your plan. Teach your plan to your kids. Build community connections. Veterans knew teamwork wasn't optional.
How Can We Honor Veterans by Being Prepared?
Veterans fought to protect our safety and security. Being prepared continues that mission.
When we take responsibility for our family's preparedness, we're saying their sacrifice wasn't taken for granted. We're showing we value the security they provided.
Many veteran customers tell us: preparedness is one of the most patriotic things you can do. It's not fear – it's respect for those who served.
Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility."
Veterans gave us that freedom. Taking responsibility for our family's safety honors their sacrifice.
This Veterans Day, the greatest honor isn't just saying "thank you for your service." It's taking action to protect what they fought to keep safe.
What Would a Veteran Want in Your Emergency Kit?
Based on military field experience and survival training principles, here's what veterans have historically prioritized:
Water and filtration
Store at least one gallon per person per day for two weeks. Add filtration like our Alexapure Water Filtration System. Military survival training always emphasizes: you can improvise shelter and ration food, but there's no substitute for clean water.
Reliable food storage
Our #10 cans and emergency food kits provide up to 25-30 years of reliable nutrition. No guessing. Just dependable food when you need it.
Coffee
Morale matters in a crisis. From the Civil War through today, coffee has been essential for troops. Franklin's Finest Coffee with an up-to-25-year shelf life means you're never without this comfort.
Light and warmth
Our 100-Hour Candles provide reliable light without batteries. Simple and field-proven.
Communication tools
Have solar-powered radios and power banks. When cell towers fail, you need backup options.
Keep It Simple
Veterans learned one thing above all: when stress hits, you default to what's simple and what you've practiced.
Start now—and start simple.
Get your water handled first. Add food storage when you're ready. Test your gear so you know it works. Build preparedness one manageable step at a time – the same way soldiers have always approached survival.
This Veterans Day, the greatest tribute isn't just gratitude. It's taking responsibility for the security they fought to protect.
