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We thought it would be a good idea to present a concise answer to the question, “What is Veteran’s Day?” for students. The Joes Foss Institute’s goals are to promote the American values of Patriotism, Public Service, Civic Involvement, & Freedom to everyone, but especially children. On this year’s Veteran’s Day, we think it is particularly important to make sure students are aware of what this holiday means, and how important it is to honor our country’s veterans and their sacrifices.
There are two basic answers to “What is Veteran’s Day?” Firstly, we would like to tackle where the holiday came from. It is based on Armistice Day which celebrated the end of World War I, on November 11, 1918 (also popularly thought of as the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. Armistice Day began under President Woodrow Wilson’s declaration, and later become known as Veteran’s Day under President Dwight Eisenhower in 1954, to further celebrate the sacrifices of World War II vets (and future veterans).
The second answer to the “What is Veteran’s Day?” question might be even more important than the history; it is the answer that tells children what this day means for us Americans. It is more than a memorial for soldiers that died in the wars. In fact, according to the Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs, Veteran’s Day is quite often mistaken for Memorial Day (the fourth Monday in May) which does specifically honor those soldiers that died for our country and freedoms from war or injuries sustained in war.
Veteran’s Day on the other hand, celebrates the current living soldiers as well as those that we have lost. We honor the courage of all soldiers past and present for defending our American liberty and national interests. Really, “What is Veteran’s Day?” can be answered simply by saying that it is the special day in which we express our thanks to active servicemembers who are out there now, keeping us safe, happy, and free.
Joe Foss Institute aims to teach children about freedom, public service, and patriotism by sharing Veterans Day history and through our VIP (Veterans Inspiring Patriotism) initiative which sends actual veterans into the classroom to connect with our youth. This is done at zero cost to the schools, because it is just that important that we educate students about these important values. Our program basically answers the “What is Veterans Day?” by having a soldier come, in person, to explain what they did—what they sacrificed—to keep America free from harm.
Other Patriotic Holiday Activity Ideas:
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