Take A Veteran To School Day

Take a Veteran to School Day

Take a Veteran to School Day is a national program developed by HISTORY to link veterans with students. Schools and communities invite veterans of all backgrounds to share their stories and receive thanks for their years of service.  Teachers, register your Take a Vet to School Day event today and we'll send you 30 free Take a Veteran to School Day wristbands while supplies last. Click here to register!

Launched in 2007, thousands of schools nationwide have participated in Take a Veteran to School Day. From single class visits to all-school assemblies, these events provide a way for students to learn more about the history of Veterans Day and about the experiences of veterans from all backgrounds and walks of life. Inviting veterans to share their stories connects generations while helping our young people learn about the past. View and download the resources on this site to get started organizing your event! The How-To Guide in the Teacher Resources section is a great starting point. Questions? Email us at veterans@aetn.com.

A Brief History of Veterans Day

Where does the term "veteran" come from?

Originally, the word veteran meant "a person of long experience" or skill. Derived from the Latin term veteranus, after the American Revolution the word veteran came to be associated specifically with former soldiers of old age who had fought for independence. As time went on, "veteran" was used to describe any former member of the armed forces or a person who had served in the military.

In the mid-19th century, this term was often shortened to the simple phrase "vets." The term came to be used as a way to categorize and honor those who had served and sacrificed through their roles in the military.

World War I, also known as the "Great War" was officially concluded on the 11th hour of the 11th Day of November, at 11 A.M. in 1918. On November 11th of the following year, President Woodrow Wilson declared that day as "Armistice Day" in honor of the peace. (The term armistice means "truce" or the end of wartime hostilities.) This day was marked with public celebrations and a two minute halt to business at 11 AM. In 1921, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier was dedicated in Arlington Cemetery with a ceremony on November 11th. After this dedication, Armistice Day was adopted in many states and at the federal level as a day to honor veterans. This was made official in 1938 when an act of Congress made Armistice Day a national holiday.

In 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower changed the name of Armistice Day to Veterans Day. For several years in the 1970s, Veterans Day was observed in October by many states but in 1978 it was returned to November 11th. Today, Veterans Day is still observed on November 11th as a national holiday to honor all veterans of the United States Armed Forces. (If November 11th falls on a weekend day, the holiday is observed the following Monday.) Throughout the nation, Americans participate in parades, ceremonies, and observances to pay their respects to our servicemen and women, both past and present.

Supporting Veterans

Underscoring Take a Veteran to School Day is a call to action for citizens to support veterans from all wars by donating to not-for-profit organizations that provide medical care, counseling, and aid to families of veterans. The following organizations offer support and assistance for veterans and current servicemen and women in the U.S. Armed Forces.

Visit their websites to find out how you can support our veterans and troops.

Armed Services YMCA
www.asymca.org
Supplies vets with access to rehabilitation facilities, job training, and other services.

The Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
www.fallenheroesfund.org
Dedicated to helping severely injured American veterans and their families.

America's VetDogs
www.vetdogs.org
Helping those who have served our country honorably to live with dignity and independence whether they are visually impaired or have other special needs.

Wounded Warrior Project
www.woundedwarriorproject.org
Wounded Warrior Project raises awareness and enlists the public’s aid for the needs of severely injured service men and women.

Thank a Veteran at Work

HISTORY invites you to participate in Thank a Veteran at Work. This program encourages businesses large and small to take time out of the day to thank the many veterans in our workplaces. HISTORY has developed a list of simple ways employers and employees can say thank you to veterans in their companies and organizations. View our "How To" guide for ideas about how you can organize an event or honor veterans on or around Veterans Day, celebrated each year on November 11th. HISTORY will also send 100 "Thank You Veterans" stickers; fill out the form below to receive these while supplies last. Interested in getting more involved in this program? Email us at veterans@aetn.com

Thank a Veteran to Work "How-To" Guide (584K)
Thank You Veterans Sticker Request Form (193K)
Thank You Veteran poster 1 (118K)
Thank You Veteran poster 2 (202K)

Take a Veteran to School Day Resources

Below are some resources for schools and communities interested in Take a Veteran to School Day. The program has been designed for flexibility so each school or community can develop their own events to fit their needs and resources; we encourage schools to be creative in designing their events. All ages and ability levels can benefit from this program– from a simple one-class discussion with a few veterans to an all-school assembly. Show our veterans how much we value their service through a learning-rich Take a Veteran to School Day experience.

To download these files, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader.

How-To Guides
How-To Guide (English) (584K)
How-To Guide (Spanish) (971K)

Curriculum and Planning Guides
Grades K-4 (933K)
Grades 5-8 (1MB)
Grades 9-12 (995K)

Student Participation Forms
Grades K-4 (449K)
Grades 5-8 (476K)
Grades 9-12 (476K)

True Story of Veterans Day Study Guide (691K)

Additional Resources:
Our Veterans, Our Stories Newspapers in Education supplement
TAVSD Primary Sources (84K)
Oral History Guidelines(44K)
Tips for Interviewing Veterans (522K)
Sample Oral Histories with Veterans (522K)
African Americans in WWII (332K)

>> Go to the Study Guides Archive for a complete list of classroom resources.

Other Resources
Veterans History Project Wiki/How-To Guide (Eastern Lebanon County High School)

Veterans History Project

Library of Congress

DOWNLOADS

Veterans History Project Field Kit (2.49MB)
Veterans History Project FAQ's (179K)
Promoting History Preservation in the Classroom (350K)

Other Resources
Visit this site from the Library of Congress to for tips specially for Educators and Students about interviewing veterans.

Veterans History Project Wiki/How-To Guide (Eastern Lebanon County High School)

Veteran Services Partners

The following organizations offer support and assistance for veterans and current servicemen and women in the U.S. Armed Forces. Explore their websites to find out how you can support our veterans and troops.

American Legion
www.legion.org
Gives financial assistance and support for military families in need.

Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
www.vfw.org
Gives financial assistance and support for military families in need.

Veterans Resources

U.S. Veterans Day Parade Directory
Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States
Veterans Health Administration
Arlington National Cemetery
American Legion