The theme for Veterans Day 2024 is “A Legacy of Loyalty and Service”. This theme probably hits home to most veterans as our service and loyalty shines through whether you served for a short term or a full career in the military.  I personally spent 21 years serving in the military and there were definitely some sacrifices that came along the way, but the Air Force core values are integrity first, service before self, and excellence in all we do and I was proud to exhibit those core values in my daily life.

I salute all current military members and veterans because serving this country is not an easy task. In fact, less than 1% of Americans currently serve in the military, which makes our bond even stronger. This November 11th, show your support to our nation’s Veterans.

Here are a few ways to show support:

• When you see a veteran, say “Thank you for your service!”
• Send a care package to our deployed troops.
• Treat a veteran to a free meal.
• Donate to a cause that supports veterans.
• Support veteran-owned companies.

I attended a local football game when they were honoring veterans that night, and I received this ribbon from the ROTC for the high school. While this isn’t the exact version of the Veterans Awareness Ribbon, I am still wearing it as a proud veteran! So, from me, a fellow veteran to all of the other veterans out there, “Thank you for your service!”

Find out more with MyMilitarySavings.com!

On May 13, 1938, An act was approved that made 11 November each year a legal holiday. This day was to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.” Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor Veterans of World War I.

To fully understand the history it is important to look back to when the Treaty of Versailles was signed. This took place on June 28, 1919. This officially ended World War I. Fighting had ceased months earlier when an armistice, A military agreement suspending active hostilities between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars”.

To this day 11 November continues to be celebrated regardless of which day of the week it falls on. The historical significance is preserved.

Today we know Veteran’s Day as “A celebration to honor America’s veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good”.

Sometimes you may get an eye-roll, or a thank you for your support response. Veterans do not serve for our gratitude. They serve because they love their country. Our household is a dual veteran house, and there are many veterans in our immediate and adopted families. If you ask a veteran why they joined, you will get a myriad of answers, but almost always you will hear “I wanted to serve my country,” regardless of whether it was peacetime or not. 

The History of Veterans Day

“To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…” 

~President Woodrow Wilson~

Veteran’s Day actually started out as Armistice Day. The agreement to end World War I was final at 11 am, on November 11 1918. The War To End All Wars, World War I was thought to be the war that would end all others, with the hope that warfare would be done for all times. Sadly, we would see many more wars, and WWII was just going to be around the corner, signaling a new era for wars and conflicts. 

It was not until President Eisenhower, however, that Armistice Day became Veterans Day. With the large number of veterans from the second World War and Korea, there was more to think about than Armistice Day. In 1954, approval was given to make November 11 a National holiday, and on October 8, President Eisenhower issued a proclamation saying:

“In order to ensure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans’ organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans’ Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible.”

Today, we celebrate Veteran’s Day, and we remember and honor those who are serving and those who have served honorably in our nation’s military. We will never know them all, but we proudly support and honor them. 

To all our veterans, we thank you and honor you for your selfless service! 

Veterans Day is something we always celebrate in our house because we have so many family members near and dear to our hearts that have served, both in times of war and in peace. I guess a strong love for your country and the will to defend it runs thick in a bloodline, huh?

I can’t write a Veterans blog without honoring my late grandfather, Raymond Hayes, who served as a medic in the Navy and survived World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam War. I wish he were here to tell my children his stories and, well, just to hug him and thank him. If you know any Veterans, make sure you reach out to them today while you can.

To celebrate this special day, my daughter and I decided to make a poppy wreath. There is significance behind the poppy flower and it’s association with Veterans of the United States of America. It became a national symbol of remembrance because, as eNature describes, “[The poppy emblem] was chosen because of the poppies that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in World War I.  And their red color seemed an appropriate symbol for the bloodshed of trench warfare.”

If you’d like to create a fun poppy wreath as well, these are the things you will need:

• Paper plate
• 16 red cupcake liners (to create 8 flowers)
• 8 green buttons
• Black & green construction paper
• Pencil, scissors, glue

Scroll below for a quick video tutorial on how to create this craft. To begin, cut the center of the paper plate out. Then invert the cupcake liners and take 8 of them and cut off the very edge in a swervy manner so it resembles a flower. Take the other 8 liners and cut a swervy edge about 1/2 way down to create a smaller layer that will be placed inside of the larger liner. You will also draw and cut out 8 small circles (slightly larger than your buttons) on the black construction paper for the center of each flower.

Then you will assemble each poppy with glue like so:

Large cupcake liner, smaller cupcake liner, black circle, button.

Check out my cute helper as she finishes our wreath up from here:

https://youtu.be/mgAJ_5EdYEY

If you cannot view the video, the rest of the wreath is simple. Glue each poppy that you create on to the outside ring of your paper plate. Cut leaves out of the green construction paper and fill in any empty spaces between each flower.

Voila!

The day prior we had begun our discussion about what a Veteran is and what he/she has done for our country. I found a color-by-number printable of a boy with a camouflage hat holding the American flag and thought it was pretty patriotic and supportive of our Veterans so we had fun coloring this while chatting about our loved ones that have served. If you don’t want the artistic fun to end with the poppy wreath, check out Mama’s Learning Corner for this free coloring sheet as well!

Happy Veterans Day, y’all. If you have served, thank you so much for your selflessness.

We are the home of the free because of the brave! <3