Veterans Day is a national holiday that honors all veterans of the United States military who served their country during times of war or peace. Founded in 1919 as Armistice Day, it originally marked the end of hostilities of World War I that occurred at the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month (which is why the day is always recognized on November 11th, regardless of the day of the week the 11th falls on).
Today, Veterans Day serves as a day of remembrance for all veterans (not to be confused with Memorial Day, which honors military personnel who died while serving our country). Veterans Day is often celebrated with parades and ceremonies, but it is also serves as a great opportunity to educate children on the role our military plays in serving our country.
Ways to Honor Veterans Day With Kids
- Discuss what it means to be courageous, brave and patriotic. This video offers some excellent advice for explaining these concepts to younger children.
- Create a patriotic craft
- Sing some patriotic songs
- Complete a Veterans Day word search, and discuss the meanings of the words.
- Color a Veterans Day-themed coloring sheet
- Share photos and stories of veterans in your own family
- Or, better yet, give one of them a call to thank them
- Have older children create a timeline of events leading to the establishment of Veterans Day (find a great example, here)
- Read a book about Veterans Day (find a great list, here)
- Send a letter to a veteran through A Million Thanks
- Head to Downtown Indianapolis for the Veterans Day Parade
- While you are there, tour IWM Plaza Historic District, which contains 2 museums and 24 acres of parks, monuments, sculptures, statues, and fountains dedicated to honoring veterans (the most monuments in the country outside of Washington DC!)
There are so many great ways to honor our veterans this Veterans Day!
