Looking for ways to have your family celebrate Veterans Day Nov. 11?
Veterans Day is a federal holiday meant to honor America's military veterans. The date is significant because the Armistice with Germany went into effect in 1918 on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11 month, for all practical purposes putting an end to World War I. The day was known as Armistice Day until 1954 when U.S. veteran organizations successfully lobbied to have it changed to Veterans Day.
We have four ideas on how your family can honor veterans for Veterans Day, whether you have veterans in your family, or simply want to thank those in your community who have served.
And if you are a veteran?
THANK YOU for your service.
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1. Attend a Veterans Day parade or ceremony
Many communities have a Veterans Day parade or other events to honor their veterans. Take your family! Your support, simply by your presence, means a lot. San Diego has several events happening this Veteran's Day. Locally, Carlsbad's Army and Navy Academy cadets and the Rotary Club of Carlsbad will host a ceremony beginning at 11:00 am to noon at the academy's Stephen M. Bliss stadium, 2600 Carlsbad Ave. The guest speaker will be retired Marine Col. Russ Hanthorn. Special activities will include a vintage plane flyover, wreath presentation, and taps. For more information, visit armyandnavyacademy.org.
Another fun event to celebrate special Veterans is the The North Coast Vettes car club’s annual All-Corvette Car Show, called “Vettes for Veterans”. This event begins at 10 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m. on November 6th at The Shoppes at Carlsbad, 2525 El Camino Real. This event will benefit the Semper Fi Fund and the Paralyzed Veterans of America. More than 225 Corvettes are expected and the event is free to the public. Visit northcoastvettes.org for more information.
In Oceanside, The Veterans Association of North County hosts its annual Veterans Day Ceremony honoring all those who served from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 6 at the VANC Resource Center, 1617 Mission Ave. The special guest speaker will be Col. Daniel M. Whitley, Commanding Officer, Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations West. Admission is free; RSVP at vanc.me/veterans-day or email lori@vanc.me. Lunch will be served following the ceremony.
Also in Oceanside, the Ocean Hills Senior Living community will dedicate a new flagpole and honor veterans at a ceremony 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 10 at 4500 Cannon Road. Retired Navy Commander and pilot William Driscoll, a Vietnam veteran, accompanied by Alex Johnson, an Ocean Hills resident and veteran, will raise the first flag. Reservations required at (760) 295-8515.
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2. Fly a flag
Put your American flag out on Veterans Day and fly it for all to see. This is a day of celebration, not mourning, so your flag should not be flown at half mast. To get your youngest ones involved, decorate for the day by putting small flags into the ground and line your sidewalk.
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3. Visit a VA Hospital or Veterans Home
If you have a Department of Veterans Affairs Hospital or veterans home near you, call ahead to see if visitors are allowed so you can stop by and say thank you in person in a safe way. If visitors are not permitted, ask how else you can share your thanks this year. What is a simple thank you to you, can mean the world to someone else.
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4. Write a thank you note
Sit down with your child to make a card or write a letter for a veteran you know. Getting a card in the mail brightens everyone's day. Don't know a veteran? Drop cards off at your local VA Hospital or veterans home if allowed, or team up with Operation Gratitude to write letters to those serving. Once registered, they will email you a letter-writing guide, printable coloring sheets for children, and instructions for shipping the letters to them for distribution.
Mary Monahan is the publisher of Macaroni KID Lincoln, Neb.
