It’s so important to show our gratitude for the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to protect ours.

So, again this year, we have decided to reach out to our fantastic CarolRoth.com contributor network to share some truly great gift ideas for the 2018 Holiday season, exclusively from businesses owned by active Military, Veterans and their families. Their answers are presented below in no particular order.

We encourage everyone to show your support to our Military/Veterans, patronize their businesses and spread the word about them!

Veterans Combating Poaching

Funded solely from kind donations, this group of US Veterans is fighting a war to protect African wildlife from being poached into extinction. Elephants, Rhinos, Giraffes, Lions and more are at dangerously low levels. Making a donation in someone else's name makes a great gift.
Help us help them at: www.vetpaw.org

Thanks to: Shelley Wenzel of VETPAW.

Premium Afghan Lapis

The lapis lazuli stones are harvested in Afghanistan and assembled by Afghan women ravaged by war. Left widowed with limited resources, supporting their craftsmanship contributes to the economic stability of their family and community. These bracelets are sold in partnership with T.A.P.S.— Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. Once they leave Afghanistan, the bracelets are shipped to the United States where they are then wrapped with love and gratitude by the families of fallen heroes. It makes a great gift!

Thanks to: Matthew Griffin of Combat Flip Flops.

Must-Have First Aid Kit

Everyone has a first-aid kit: some Band-Aids and antibiotic ointment. That’s fine for scrapes, but not serious cuts. EMTs may arrive in 10 minutes but a child can die in 5 if an artery is severed. The Audio Bleeding Control Kit provides supplies and “just in time” audio instructions in English and Spanish, along with visual aids and supplies, on how to handle three different levels of bleeding injuries. The light, portable kits can be stored on shelves, in drawers or trunks or on walls. Makes a thoughtful, life-saving gift!

Thanks to: Robert Castellani of North American Rescue.

Card Caddy

The Card Caddy is the ONLY playing card case that turns into a discard tray, so that you can keep your cards safe and then play anywhere, anytime! Makes a great gift for everyone on your list - we're all looking for ways to spend more quality time with friends and family. With the Card Caddy, all your cards stay exactly where you want them to be!

Thanks to: Chris Nichols of Narrows Hill LLC.

"Art" of Holding Down the Fort

Military spouses are the most resilient people I know. I have been blessed to know & befriend Leslie Campbell, the owner of ravenworksstudio.net. She is an amazing artist, woman, military spouse & mom. She has traveled the world while raising two boys, at times alone, while her husband retired Col. Robert Campbell was on duty worlds away. Through art, Leslie has made a name for herself & has left an imprint on many people's lives. Her art collections capture so much beauty & make the perfect gift.

Thanks to: Lori Bruhns of Lori Bruhns, LLC.

Not Your Typical Jerky!

U.S. Air Force veteran & CEO, Chris Prascus takes pride in delivering the best, using only top-quality ingredients. While serving his country, his best memories came from care packages he received – with the beef jerky in them bringing him the most comfort.

Soldier Boy is not your typical “jerky”.
Ultra-tender and all-natural without nitrates, it’s more like steak in a bag! Soldier Boy’s “Sweet Heat” and “Sriracha Assault” jerky will make great gifts this holiday season!

Thanks to: Chris Prascus of Soldier Boy Beef Jerky.

Badass Beard Oil

Badass Beard Care's fan favorite beard oil comes in 13 different scents like The Ladies Man (Lemon, Vanilla), The Viking (Orange, Siberian Fir, Clove) and The Outlaw (Sweet Tobacco, Vanilla, Black Pepper). All are hand-crafted with the finest, natural oils and 100% organic food-grade ingredients that are specially formulated to soften beard hair, hydrate skin to reduce itch and dandruff, promote thicker and faster hair growth, tame flyaway hairs and repair split ends.

Thanks to: Charlie Moyer of Badass Beard Care.

Adventurous Holiday Gifts!

The Hooded Travel Pillow from Grand Trunk is a fabulous idea for anyone that likes to slip into ultimate comfort while on the road. Travel like a Jedi with this soft micro-fleece pillow, designed with memory foam, providing ergonomic comfort and neck support. The storable hood covers eyes for instant darkness and the included hygienic carry bag keeps it all clean! Grand Trunk was founded on a love of the great outdoors, and their sole mission is to spread that appreciation far and wide.

Thanks to: Katie Rose Cronin of Grand Trunk.

.50 Caliber Money Clip

One of the most creative gifts I've seen is a brass .50 caliber money clip from a company called Sword & Plough. They take military surplus and repurpose it. They are veteran owned and proudly employ other veterans. This particular money clip is handcrafted from a .50 caliber brass shell casing. It's perfect for minimalists who want to lighten their wallet load.

Thanks to: James Pollard of The Advisor Coach.

Gifts by Active Duty Military

Hilarious holiday gift idea owned by active duty military member and wife. It’s Pop it Pal, the first ever pimple popping simulator. This incredibly satisfying and stress relieving toy went viral within two weeks of launching and has been featured on Buzzfeed, The Today Show and Fast Company even labeled them “the next fidget spinner". Everyone knows somebody that loves to pop pimples! It’s definitely the best white elephant gift and stocking stuffer this season. PopitPal.com

Thanks to: Kayla Roof of Pop it Pal™ |Unique Obsessions LLC.

Six Shooter Whiskey Glasses

These Whiskey Glasses are machined out of a solid block of aluminum to resemble the cylinder of the iconic Colt Revolver. Weighing in at over a pound, they're the ideal way to sip 10oz of your favorite whiskey, bourbon, or scotch. Available with custom engraving, you can personalize them as gifts for any occasion.

If you prefer something a little smaller or larger, see our Six Shooter Shot Glasses which hold 1.25oz of spirits or our Six Shooter Pint Glasses which hold a full 16oz of beer.

Thanks to: Eric Montgomery of Groomsmen Central.

Help a Vet Catch a Wave

My name is Jhonatan Quispe and I am a Marine Corps Veteran. A great holiday gift for a veteran would be a surfboard from the company One More Wave.

One More Wave provides wounded or disabled veterans access to surfing by providing them with customized surfing equipment and assistance. Surfing has been known to help people with PTSD. Shop their hats, shirts and gear or make a donation to support.

Thank you!

Thanks to: Jhonatan Quispe of Local Vibe Rentals.

Carol Roth is a national media personality, "recovering" investment banker, dealmaker, investor, speaker and author of the New York Times bestselling book, The Entrepreneur Equation.