Veterans Day is a federal holiday recognized each November to celebrate and honor all U.S. veterans — deceased or living. Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day, a day to remember those service members who gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives. Memorial Day is in May of each year.
No matter the day of the week, Veterans Day always falls on November 11 each year. It’s also a federal holiday recognized nationwide. With 18.2 million vets living in the United States, it’s a holiday most communities celebrate with festivals, parades, and recognition of local vets.
Originally called Armistice Day, that name changed in 1954 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower officially switched it to Veterans Day.
- Other Countries Celebrate It Too
Because World War I was a multi-country effort with thousands of lives lost, other countries involved in the war honor their veterans around this time of year, too. On or near November 11, France, Australia, Canada, and Great Britain pay respects to their vets. The UK and Canada call the day of honor Remembrance Day. - Arlington National Cemetery Hosts an Annual Event
Each year on November 11 at exactly 11 am, Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia holds a Veterans Day event. It starts with a wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The public is always invited to attend.
- There’s No Apostrophe in Veterans Day
You’ve probably seen it spelled different ways — including veteran’s or veterans’— but the Department of Defense firmly states it’s simply “Veterans Day”.
- All Veterans are Honored
The holiday was formerly called Armistice Day to commemorate the end of World War I. While it may have been founded in honor of the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month”, Veterans Day is to honor all veterans from all wars.
Take Care of a Veteran This Veterans Day
If you have the chance, go into a military community during Veterans Day to experience the true spirit of this observed holiday. Even if you don’t live near a military base, your community likely has special events or festivals to honor your local military members.
Want to take it up a notch? Here are a few ideas:
Stop by the local VFW – Most communities have a local military gathering place like the VFW or American Legion. Stop by and shake the hands of local veterans. They love for visitors to come in and say hello!
Honor deceased vets – Today is about honoring all vets, including the ones who have passed away. Stop by a cemetery to clean up vet gravesites or place flags on their site.
Get involved – There are tons of local and national nonprofit organizations dedicated to taking care of our military vets. Find one whose mission resonates with you and volunteer your time. Operation Gratitude is always looking for help to fill care packages for active duty troops as well as wounded heroes and vets.
Keep them company – If you’re out and about on Veterans Day at a restaurant — many give out free meals to vets — and see a veteran eating alone, ask if you can sit with them.They might just love the company. You can also stop by a VA home to see how you can help out.
Veterans Day is all about honoring those who served. If you see one, thank one. They probably don’t hear it enough, and Veterans Day is the perfect opportunity to express your gratitude.
Veterans Day is a time to recognize those who have served in the U.S. military. If you’re looking for a way to celebrate and honor veterans on Veterans Day at your church, here are some ideas:
- Have all members of your congregation bring in pictures of themselves as children with their parents or guardians, along with a short story about what it was like growing up as part of a military family. Display them on a wall or bulletin board to create an interesting display that honors veterans while also highlighting the experiences of young people who have grown up in military families.
- Host a service where you ask veterans from different eras (and even other countries) to share their stories about how they came to be involved with the armed forces and what their experiences were like during wartime or peacetime deployments. This can be done through testimonies given by each veteran at an open mic format or through video testimonies recorded ahead of time so that they can be played during the service itself if needed.
- Use the day as an opportunity to discuss some basic things about being a Christian while also honoring veterans who have served our country over the years—for example, you could talk about how God has called us all into His kingdom through
Ideas for Honoring Veterans at Church
Church services can honor the brave men and women who have protected their country with their time in the armed services. Consider ways your church can show honor and respect to your community of veterans.
Churches can have a special service honoring military veterans. Invite the community to a time of reflection and thanks. Include songs of a patriotic and religious nature such as “God Bless America.” The sermon should include a theme of thankfulness to God for protection and freedom, as well as a thankfulness to the servicemen and women. Special gifts may be given to veterans who attend the service. A special book or thank-you notes created by the church Sunday-school students make appropriate gifts.
Reception
Hold a reception for military veterans at the church. Ask families in the church to provide a dish for the event. Decorate the fellowship hall with U.S. flags, and use red, white and blue tablecloths. Have a cake for dessert, with “Thank you” written on the top, along with some red, white and blue flowers to decorate. Include a prayer for the food and add a blessing for all veterans.
Veterans Wall
Create a veterans wall in your church foyer. Hang framed pictures of all the servicemen and women who attend the church, as well as past members. Include other memorabilia of nostalgic or historical significance such as letters veterans have written to the church, or newspaper clippings about veterans who are in the church or family members of those in the church.
Financial Support
A church can honor veterans by giving financial support to them and their families. Establish a scholarship for veterans and their families. Ask church members for financial contributions to a scholarship fund for vets or for the children of military veterans. Deliver food baskets to vets and their families as another way to honor them.