November Is a National Season

Whether you’re gearing up for your favorite seasonal latte, winter days after a hot summer, Thanksgiving dinner, holiday sales, or the season itself, November is the month many look forward to all year long.

Pasadena Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) explores a much more empathetic side of November days. Nationally, November is the month for:

• National Veterans Day - November 11th
• National Veterans and Military Families Month
• National Entrepreneurship Month 
• National Gratitude Month

National Veterans Day

In 1918, during World War I, “on the 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month, a temporary cessation of hostilities was declared.” Because of this act, November 11th,  and since 2023, the month of November is annually acknowledged as a time for Americans to celebrate, honor, and remember selfless humans who put their lives on the line for their fellow countrymen, many giving the ultimate sacrifice. PEDC thanks all veterans for your service and continued efforts!  

Taken from the website, “The American Legion is a patriotic veterans organization devoted to mutual helpfulness. It’s the nation’s largest wartime veterans service organization.” Each location is called a Post and there are over 12,000 throughout the United States.

PEDC thanks the members of American Legion Post 521 for their dedication to our local veterans and the community. Since 1967, members of American Legion Post 521, named after Astronaut Edward H. White II, have shown their gratitude to White’s memory through their selfless service of family and community engagement while honoring those who came before them.

National Entrepreneurship Month 

November is National Entrepreneurship Month. What started as a day in 2010, turned into a month-long celebration of recognition for the tireless efforts entrepreneurs consistently endure while contributing to the stabilization of local economies. 

Innovation is the name of the game, and as entrepreneurs, they see problems, find solutions, and create answers. An example we all can relate to is Karl Benz. He saw the problem of people walking, found a solution for mobile transportation, and created the first car. Decades later, Henry Ford saw the problem of car demand, found a solution to mass production, and made the assembly line to manufacture multiple cars at a time. Centuries after Benz and Ford’s creations, vehicle innovation has now morphed into rideshare options and electric cars. Entrepreneurs are heroes.

Powering the Possibilities of Gratitude

Thanksgiving has been around for centuries, so it’s no surprise that in 2015, National Gratitude Month was born. Is there a difference? Many consider gratitude and thankfulness to be one and the same. Yet, as Philosopher Henri Amiel once said, “Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. Thankfulness may consist merely of words. Gratitude is shown in acts.”

Power the possibilities and show gratitude to local entrepreneurs, veterans, veteran-owned businesses, family, and friends this holiday season:

• Volunteer your time and visit a veteran, elderly family member, or sick friend
• Volunteer your assistance at your favorite business or new business
• Consider a local service-based entrepreneur and schedule an appointment
• Leave a review on the social media page of an entrepreneur or veteran-owned business
• Leave a positive review on your personal social media page
• Longstanding entrepreneurs - mentor a new entrepreneur
• Longstanding business owners - volunteer teaching small business basics with a local small business development organization

Share the word and remind others to be thankful for the journey we are all on together.