Veterans Day
What is a Veteran?
A veteran is someone who
has served in the military. The
United States military is made
up of the Army, Navy, Air
Force, Marines and the Coast
Guard. The law defines a
veteran as any person who
has served for any length of
time in any military branch.
Veterans may or may not
have fought in wars.
What is Veterans Day?
Once a year, Americans set aside a special day to
acknowledge and celebrate the contributions that
veterans have made for our country. On November
11th of every year, we tell veterans that we are thankful
for the sacrifices that they have made.
How Veterans Serve
All American citizens enjoy
certain rights and freedoms.
These freedoms are not
free, but have to be
protected and enforced by
our military.
Veterans work to protect
American freedoms from
people who threaten our
way of life.
What Freedoms Do Americans Enjoy?
Thanks to our veterans, Americans enjoy the right to
choose their elected officials. We enjoy the right to
peacefully assemble. We enjoy the freedom to speak
our minds, and we enjoy the freedom to worship
without fear of persecution or death.
Americans also have the freedom to live in peace,
knowing that our Veterans are standing guard ready to
defend our country from attack.
Remembering the Fallen Heroes
Veterans Day is set aside to
remember and honor all
veterans, both living and
dead. Memorial Day,
however, only honors our
fallen heroes. A “fallen”
veteran is someone who has
died while serving in the
United States military.
How Do We Honor Veterans?
When you honor someone,
you show respect in your
words and actions towards
that person. On Veterans
Day, Americans honor
veterans by flying the
American flag. We also
attend special ceremonies,
have parades, and pray for
the safety of our Troops.
A Day To Remember
Veterans Day is a national
holiday. If November 11th
falls on a weekday,
government offices,
schools and many
businesses are closed on
that day.
The Red Poppy – A Symbol of Service
The red poppy is often used as a
symbol to remember our
veterans. A poppy is a kind of a
flower. Many years ago, a soldier
named John McCrae wrote a
poem called “In Flanders Field”.
The poem talked about rows and
rows of poppy flowers growing
between the graves of fallen
soldiers. Today the red poppy is
a symbol which helps us
remember the sacrifices made
by others.
How Kids Can Honor Veterans
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Say “thank you” when you see a soldier.
Pray for the safety of our troops.
Fly a flag on Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
Place flowers or flags on the graves of fallen veterans.
Wear a yellow ribbon or a red poppy pin to show your
support.
6. Send a thank you note to one of our soldiers. Visit the
website http://www.amillionthanks.org
7. Visit a Veterans Hospital or offer to volunteer there.
Talk About It…
Do you know someone serving in the military?
Perhaps you have a family member that has served
or is currently serving. Share your experiences.
How many American symbols can you name? Which
one is your favorite and why?
What does it mean to be patriotic? How can
American citizens show patriotism?
Happy Veterans Day!
The End!