Veterans Day Program

Veterans Day Celebration Event at School

Veterans Day is a special time for celebration and remembrance of the patriotism of the men and women who sacrificed for our country. It is an important, and sometimes forgotten holiday, and it should be recognized in elementary schools. This year marks 100 years of celebrating this special day, November 11, which was originally named Armistice Day in 1919. A Veterans Day program is the perfect way to teach children about the significance of this holiday.

Students need to understand the importance of this patriotic holiday even at a young age. Having a school-wide veterans day program and event is a wonderful way to teach kids about this holiday.

Each year my school’s veterans day committee sends out invitations to veterans in our community, family members of our students and staff, and the VFW. We invite them to a small veterans day program that includes a variety of different activities for the veterans and the kids. Here’s a look at our special events planned for this special day.

Veterans Day Welcome Breakfast 

When visitors arrived, they registered in the front lobby where school staff greeted them. A welcome banner and poetic poster also greeted them at the entrance. Then several students acted as the welcome crew for the day, directing all veteran visitors to the cafeteria. Our school PTA kindly provided a breakfast for the group of men and women attending the veterans day program. 

Veterans Day Welcome Breakfast

SUGGESTION: Before the event, select a group or a club of 5-8 responsible students to be the tour guide for the day. If this is not possible for your school, you can easily place signs around the school to guide your veteran visitors to the appropriate place.

Ask your school’s art teacher to have students create a colorful welcome banner to hang at the front of the school. 

Veterans Day Music or Concert

After breakfast, we had a special musical program in our large multipurpose school room. Student artwork and patriotic decorations were hung on the wall, brightening up the entire atmosphere. 

Veterans Day Musical Concert

To begin the program, high school chorus students sang the National Anthem, and the high school band played Taps and other patriotic selections. Then the elementary grades sang a beautiful song called “Thank a Vet,” from the Music K-8 magazine by Plank Road Publishing. The students enjoyed practicing and performing the Veterans Day music for this event and felt it was a way in which they could show their appreciation to veterans who fought for our country. 

Then students enjoyed listening to a few veterans speak to the group about their personal experience while serving. The speakers also brought a few articles of clothing and important equipment for the students to see.

SUGGESTION:  Plan for this event well ahead of time. You need to secure the event date ahead of time so that all student performing groups can prepare their music in time and veteran visitors are able to commit to attending the event.

Veterans Thank You Bags

At the end of this exciting Veterans Day, students handed out little homemade goody bags to each of the veterans. This was a great way to say thank you and that they appreciated their time spent together. These goody bags contained gum, mints, candy, snacks, and toiletries. For a special added touch, you can add a poem or short note or letter. At my school, we tied a laminated ‘thank you’ poem to the goody bag. If you’re interested in this Veterans Day poem, click here to view it.

Veterans Day Thank You Bags and Poem Gift

SUGGESTION:  Send a letter home with students requesting families to donate items for the bags. Some parents may even be willing to donate their time to help assemble the bags as the date gets closer.

Veterans Day Classroom Visits

After the program, veterans visited classrooms all around the school. Some read books to the children, and others told stories about their experiences. No matter what they did, every classroom that received a special guest was so excited. They focused as they listened intently to the speaker. Several students had a grandparent, aunt/uncle, or parent attending for the day and were so thrilled to introduce their friends to their guest. Some visitors were willing and excited to speak to the whole class, and others were more comfortable speaking or assisting in small groups of 1-3 students at a time. In either situation, the students enjoyed their time spent together.

Veterans Day Classroom Visits

SUGGESTION:  Set a certain time for “visiting hours” so that teachers can plan accordingly. Also provide veterans with a map of the school highlighting classrooms that welcome visits. Supply teachers with a list of resources or websites to assist in a class discussion on Veterans Day.

Veterans Day Activities in the Music Room

During the week of Veterans Day, music teachers can include songs, games, and activities that specifically celebrate our veterans. Explore your curriculum resources, songbooks, music educational magazines, and online sources like YouTube. You’re sure to find lots of patriotic songs to use in the music room. Themed rhythmic review games are also a great addition to the week of Veterans Day. The pictures in the games can spark a great discussion, while students are practicing writing rhythms. If you have enough veterans visiting the music room, pair up a few students with a visitor in a group to participate in a musical scavenger hunt around the room. Everyone will surely love it!

Activities in the Music Room

SUGGESTION: Plan ahead to find and create the necessary resources for your lesson. Make extra copies of sheet music or worksheets for any visitors that may want to join in with the students.

It is so important for young children to recognize the significance of Veterans Day. Also, it is so crucial to teach this at a young age. These activities and many other ideas can encourage reflection and remembrance of the heroic patriotism and service of men and women throughout the years. 

Also to check out another (more personal) blog post on Veterans Day, click here.

Thank you to all the men and women that have risked their lives for us fighting all over the world for our freedom! Happy Veterans Day!