Great Ideas to Celebrate Veterans Day
Here are some fun ways to celebrate Veterans Day. Choose a few your family will enjoy and have a wonderful day!
Attend your local Veterans Day parade.
You might need to explain to your kids that we attend the parade, not necessarily because we want to, but to honor people who have served our country. (At least my family needs to say that from time to time.)
Invite your kids to look for opportunities to say thank-you to the veterans they see. Usually, even teens come home happy that they went, especially if you have a nice brunch afterwards.
Visit with a veteran
Whether you call, visit them, or invite a veteran into your home, this can become a favorite family tradition. My dad and father-in-law both served in World War II. We call them for Veterans Day and Memorial Day and invite them to tell us about their experiences. Of course, we've heard the same stories many times now, but we never get tired of them. We hope our kids will tell them to our grandkids so our family legacy is passed from one generation to the next.
Thank a military family
You could make them a card or a poster and take them a treat. Tell them how grateful you are for the sacrifices they are making (or have made) for our country. Be sure to make plenty of treats so your family can have some when you return home!
Or you could tape a thank-you picture or note on a military family's door, ring the doorbell and hide. Kids love to "ding dong ditch" and it's fun for the military family to wonder who their secret pal is.
If you don't know any military families, you could watch the video of soldiers being reunited with their families and talk about some of the sacrifices military families make. You might want to say a prayer for them.
Read or tell a patriotic story
Share your feelings about the blessings we enjoy in America. If you don't have any stories handy, you could read "Our Father" or "I Knew You Would Come."
Attend a patriotic performance
Or watch The Price of Freedom at home. It's wonderful!
Have a patriotic sing-along
Invite extended family, friends, and neighbors - anyone you want. You can use recorded music or invite someone who plays the guitar or piano (if you have one). Our kids take piano lessons, so I found patriotic music and created a "Music of America" notebook. The kids practice during the year so they are prepared to play for the sing-along without any stress. I also type up copies of the words so everyone can sing along. (This is great for the Fourth of July too.)
Sometimes we include extra instruments in our concerts. A few weeks before the celebration I make "Music of America" folders and take them to the participants so the instrumentalists can practice. (We invite extra musician friends.)
And every once in awhile we go all out. In addition to what our friends bring, our family furnishes the piano, guitar, autoharp, cello, french horn, keyboards, recorders, bells, and drums. (But really, if you wanted extra instruments for young kids, you could use a few pots and pans for drums, bells, rhythm sticks, etc.) Everyone who wants one gets an instrument to play. The kids have a blast. It's pretty amazing how the talent all comes together for some great music and a lot of fun.
We serve refreshments afterwards, sometimes very simple ones, and sometimes the refreshments are pot luck.
Serve
Not everyone serves in the military, but we can all do something to lighten the burdens of those around us. Talk with your family about the best way you can help someone, and do it. The happy glow that almost always comes from helping others may be your favorite part of the holiday!
*Interview a veteran (video or written).
*Write letters to veterans. Submit them to the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress.
*Make a family “War Heroes Tree.”
*Support active duty soldiers with letters/care packages.
*Thank soldiers in uniform - every day.
*Baby sit/cook for a military family.
Attend your local Veterans Day parade.
You might need to explain to your kids that we attend the parade, not necessarily because we want to, but to honor people who have served our country. (At least my family needs to say that from time to time.)
Invite your kids to look for opportunities to say thank-you to the veterans they see. Usually, even teens come home happy that they went, especially if you have a nice brunch afterwards.
Visit with a veteran
Whether you call, visit them, or invite a veteran into your home, this can become a favorite family tradition. My dad and father-in-law both served in World War II. We call them for Veterans Day and Memorial Day and invite them to tell us about their experiences. Of course, we've heard the same stories many times now, but we never get tired of them. We hope our kids will tell them to our grandkids so our family legacy is passed from one generation to the next.
Thank a military family
You could make them a card or a poster and take them a treat. Tell them how grateful you are for the sacrifices they are making (or have made) for our country. Be sure to make plenty of treats so your family can have some when you return home!
Or you could tape a thank-you picture or note on a military family's door, ring the doorbell and hide. Kids love to "ding dong ditch" and it's fun for the military family to wonder who their secret pal is.
If you don't know any military families, you could watch the video of soldiers being reunited with their families and talk about some of the sacrifices military families make. You might want to say a prayer for them.
Read or tell a patriotic story
Share your feelings about the blessings we enjoy in America. If you don't have any stories handy, you could read "Our Father" or "I Knew You Would Come."
Attend a patriotic performance
Or watch The Price of Freedom at home. It's wonderful!
Have a patriotic sing-along
Invite extended family, friends, and neighbors - anyone you want. You can use recorded music or invite someone who plays the guitar or piano (if you have one). Our kids take piano lessons, so I found patriotic music and created a "Music of America" notebook. The kids practice during the year so they are prepared to play for the sing-along without any stress. I also type up copies of the words so everyone can sing along. (This is great for the Fourth of July too.)
Sometimes we include extra instruments in our concerts. A few weeks before the celebration I make "Music of America" folders and take them to the participants so the instrumentalists can practice. (We invite extra musician friends.)
And every once in awhile we go all out. In addition to what our friends bring, our family furnishes the piano, guitar, autoharp, cello, french horn, keyboards, recorders, bells, and drums. (But really, if you wanted extra instruments for young kids, you could use a few pots and pans for drums, bells, rhythm sticks, etc.) Everyone who wants one gets an instrument to play. The kids have a blast. It's pretty amazing how the talent all comes together for some great music and a lot of fun.
We serve refreshments afterwards, sometimes very simple ones, and sometimes the refreshments are pot luck.
Serve
Not everyone serves in the military, but we can all do something to lighten the burdens of those around us. Talk with your family about the best way you can help someone, and do it. The happy glow that almost always comes from helping others may be your favorite part of the holiday!
*Interview a veteran (video or written).
*Write letters to veterans. Submit them to the Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress.
*Make a family “War Heroes Tree.”
*Support active duty soldiers with letters/care packages.
*Thank soldiers in uniform - every day.
*Baby sit/cook for a military family.