Thanksgiving Traditions
The Wednesday before Thanksgiving is the busiest travel day of the year. People are flying and driving all over the country to visit family, watch football and eat turkey. One of the biggest holiday traditions is watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade. More than 50 million people watch the parade in New York every year, and upwards of 2 million of those spectators are attending the show!
Among those present are members of the New York City Police Department, however, they are not simply viewing the event. It’s their job to ensure the safety of performers and spectators, to help clear the roads and to make sure the tradition proceeds without a hitch. We are happy to have been a small part of this year's celebration by creating custom coins for New York’s 20th precinct.
These coins capture the most important tradition of the holiday: being thankful for people that matter most. The 20th precinct serves the Upper West Side of Manhattan where the parade will kickoff. Many of the officers will be on duty during the parade, and these coins are going to be handed out as a sign of appreciation and support for their work. Police Departments, government agencies and businesses of every shape and size use challenge coins as a means of showing a team how much they matter to the organization.
Every custom coin has a story, and almost all of them are created to give thanks for the most deserving and important people in our lives. For this year’s Thanksgiving, we wanted to share a few of the stories that remind us of the things we should all be thankful for. Take a look and let us know what you think.
Marc Castellano Foundation Challenge Coin
In 2010, Officer Marc Castellano was killed while on duty, investigating a possible armed occupant of an abandoned car. He was struck by a passing motorist while walking along the highway shoulder and later died at the hospital from his injuries. A non-profit was formed in his name and today is still focused on celebrating his life and service, as well as all other New Jersey State Troopers.
The Marc Castellano Foundation holds fundraisers and events like last year’s Thanksgiving Day 5k Turkey Trot where all proceeds are given to fallen trooper’s families, law enforcement families in need and to scholarship funds. This coin is simple in design but carries a significant weight. On the front is a picture of Trooper Castellano, and on the back is the New Jersey State Police seal with the foundation name on top. The number printed below was Castellano’s badge number.
We are always humbled and grateful for the chance to make something that is so meaningful to a cause, a community and a family. The story of Marc Castellano reminds us how fragile life is and how thankful we should be to have our families with us to celebrate holidays like Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is the perfect time to take a moment and remember the United States soldiers deployed overseas who defend our Nation. As Americans, we all have so much to be thankful for, especially when it comes to the courageous service of men and women of the armed forces. Some people like to give thanks and show their support by sending care packages to soldiers deployed into combat zones and also to the homeless veterans in our own country.
I Honor Your Service To America Coins
These challenge coins are for an online charity called I Honor Your Service To America. The group collects donations and creates special care packages filled with some of the comforts of home like snacks, toiletries, movies, books, writing materials, music and even girl scout cookies. Stateside veterans in need receive similar care packages with the essential items they might need while living in shelters or on the streets.
There is a simple message of thanks printed on these coins. Soldiers in every branch of the military collect challenge coins throughout their career for things like excellent service, completing missions or for special events. But a simple coin like this shows our support and our thankfulness for their sacrifice, providing encouragement for every soldier to keep up the good fight!
A New Way To Show Your Thankfulness
Some corporations and small businesses like to create special coins for their employees. There are holiday coins, service recognition coins, and coins to commemorate promotions and achievements. Thanksgiving and the holiday season are the perfect time for leaders to show how thankful they are for staff and the hard work they put forward.
Thanksgiving is full of all sorts of traditions, but it’s important that we look beyond the normal festivities like holiday shopping and overeating. It’s a time to give thanks and to show appreciation to the good people in our lives. Signature Coins is happy to be a part of New York’s 20th precinct’s holiday celebration by creating custom challenge coins for the officers on duty. This year, consider starting a new Thanksgiving tradition with challenge coins. They are unique to every customer and are perfect for showing family, friends and coworkers how thankful you are to have them in your life. However you choose to celebrate, we here at Signature Coins would like to wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving!
