Honoring Those Who Served: 11 Ways to Celebrate Veterans Day

November 11th is a day set aside each year to honor those who have served and continue to serve our nation. Not to be confused with Memorial Day, the day we pay tribute to fallen service members.

Veterans Day offers an excellent opportunity to teach civilians about the sacrifices service members and their families make year-round. The holiday also provides Veterans and their families with activities you may not find every day.

We've compiled some of our top ideas on celebrating Veterans Day below.

How to Celebrate Veterans Day

1. Veterans Can Get a Free or Discounted Meal

Most restaurants offer free meals or discounts to Veterans and service members on Veterans Day. Remember, businesses will likely require proof of service (military ID, separation papers, etc.), so bring it. Also, call ahead to confirm they offer a discount.

2. Visit a State Park or Museum

Many state parks and museums offer free entry on Veterans Day. Visit their website or call ahead to double-check.

3. Send a Card or Video

Start compiling a list of names and addresses of the Veterans you know and send them a thank you card this year. Keep building your list and make it a tradition to send these each year. It doesn’t take long to send a welcome gift to a Veteran or deployed service member. Here are some letter-writing tips, specifically for troops, to get you started.

4. Organize a Care-Package Packing Party

If you don't know someone currently stationed overseas, contact a nearby base or an organization like Blue Star Moms to identify troops in need. Here are some ideas for what deployed troops really want in their care packages.

5. Get Children Involved

For young children, a fun project is a great way to start teaching about the holiday and why it matters. There are many ways to help children learn about Veterans Day, from coloring sheets to online videos.

6. Encourage a Veterans Day Lesson Plan

Teachers, this one is for you! A timeline or short writing project is a great way for students to learn about the holiday's history. Consider organizing a Veterans Day-themed creative writing contest. Talk with the school and understand their requirements. You may find willing volunteer judges among student organizations, local Veteran organizations, active-duty service members, reservists, teachers or professors at a local university.

7. Invite a Veteran to Speak

Another great way to teach students about Veterans Day is by letting them hear from Veterans themselves. Inviting a parent, grandparent, faculty member or community member who is a Veteran to speak to your class is a great way to get involved.

Don't know any Veterans to invite? Contact your local VA; their Public Affairs Officer will likely identify a good guest speaker. Many Veterans also work at VA facilities and are typically happy to speak to students.

8. Thank Veterans in Your Workplace

A simple thank you goes a long way. However, feel free to show extra appreciation by taking a Veteran from your office out to coffee or lunch. Keep in mind that Veterans are typically very humble and don't like creating a big to-do list- simple things go a long way.

9. Support Veteran-Owned Businesses

Veteran-owned businesses are in every community. Google makes it easier to find them in their business profiles through Google My Business. They usually indicate this with a "Veteran-Led" note on the profile. You can also use Veteran-owned business directories or ask friends in your community.

10. Make a Donation or Volunteer

Many charities help Veterans in need. Consider donating this Veterans Day to help those wounded or affected by service.

11. Observe a Moment of Silence

A more private way to show thanks is by observing a moment of silence. The Veterans Day moment of silence is typically observed for two minutes at 11:11 am every Veterans Day.

Celebrating Veterans in Your Community

This Veterans Day, Veterans United released "Where We Once Stood," a documentary about a group of nine Vietnam Veterans returning to Vietnam for the first time since serving there, 50 years after the war's end. The film follows the Veterans, including a Medal of Honor recipient and former prisoner of war, as they revisit the places that shaped them and what they left behind.

Consider honoring those who served by watching their story, "Where We Once Stood," which is streaming on Prime Video starting November 11th.