Ten Ways Your Unit Can Celebrate
VETERANS DAY NOVEMBER 11, 2013 1. Write a letter to a veteran
In 2010, BSA released some tips for Scouts on writing a letter to a veteran. Here are a few: remain positive; remember that veterans may be men or women, old or young, and of all ethnic backgrounds when writing your letter; be creative – draw pictures or send photographs of your school, Scout activities, or favorite things from home; say “thank you” for their service, and let them know why you think patriotism is important.
2. Invite a veteran to speak to your unit
Many veterans would feel honored when asked to come speak to your unit about their experiences serving our country. To find an interested veteran, try contacting a veterans group chapter or VA hospital in your area. This facility locator should help you get started.
3. Hold special activities at your next meeting
Take a moment to remember veterans at your meeting, even if you aren’t inviting a veteran to speak to your unit. This Teachers Guide (link opens PDF) was prepared by the Department of Veterans Affairs specifically for school classrooms, but there are clear applications for a unit leader looking to design an activity for younger or old boys.
4. Have a Scout recite a Veterans Day speech
A simple way to honor this special day might be to ask one of your Scouts to recite a Veterans Day speech given by a U.S. President or other top official. You’ll find dozens of speeches available on the VA’s site, including last year’s speech by President Barack Obama, several addresses by George W. Bush, and two by Gerald R. Ford, the only president who was also an Eagle Scout.
5. Visit memorials at the National Mall
At the National Mall in Washington, DC, the Park Service maintains a trove of iconic memorials, including the World War II and Korean War Memorials honoring thousands of war heroes. Perhaps most famous is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial featuring more than 58,000 names etched into walls of granite in honor of those who died while in service in Vietnam or were still unaccounted for when the wall was constructed in 1982.
6. Join the NCAC Honor Unit
Sign up as a unit or as a family to help the Honor Unit place wreaths at memorials. Come in full uniform to the Boy Scout Memorial (at the base of the Ellipse) at 10am on Veterans Day. The Unit will hike to the World War Two, Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War One Memorials. Please bring water, wear comfortable shoes, and be prepared for the weather. Parking is limited, so please plan to arrive via Metro at Federal Triangle and depart via Smithsonian. For more information visit www.NCACBSA.org/HonorUnit.