What Traditions are Observed On Veterans Day?

Breakfast for Dinner

If you’re planning on hosting a dinner for your friends and family, you might want to consider serving breakfast for dinner! This is a common tradition for many households on Veterans Day. Why? Well, one explanation is that there is an old saying that breakfast is the “most important meal of the day”. Thus, on Veterans Day, when many are thinking about and honoring the soldiers who have put their lives on the line for our country, it makes sense to eat breakfast for dinner! This tradition isn’t specifically meant to be observed on Veterans Day. Instead, it’s one that you’ll often see on other special occasions as well, including Mother’s Day and Easter.

Monument Dedication Ceremony

When observing Veterans Day, many communities host a Monument Dedication Ceremony. This is a special event where a monument will be unveiled in honor of those who have served in the military. These monuments are often placed in front of the town hall or other central location. If you’re planning on attending this special event, you’ll want to bring along a red or blue ribbon with you. Why? This ribbon is meant to signify that you or someone close to you has served in the armed forces. You’ll also want to bring along a pen so that you can write down your name and relationship to the military man or woman on the ribbon. You can then tie the ribbon to the monument, so that the person being honored will always be remembered.

An Evening Vigil

An evening vigil is another special tradition that many communities observe on Veterans Day. An evening vigil is a way of honoring the veterans of our country during the evening hours. People often host evening vigils at memorials and cemeteries. And they are also sometimes held in places of worship. If you’re visiting a place of worship on Veterans Day, you may notice that the service will be a little bit different than usual. That’s because many places of worship hold special services on Veterans Day. People who attend these services will often light candles to remember and honor those who have served and are currently serving in the armed forces.

Firing of the Guns

Another tradition that you may come across on Veterans Day is the firing of the guns. The firing of the guns is a tradition that dates back to the Civil War. This is a special ceremony that takes place as part of the evening service. Many veterans will bring their guns to the service, which are then fired to end the service. There’s also another tradition that takes place as part of this ceremony. Many people will keep a bucket at the end of their pew, which they will use to collect the empty casings from the guns. You can then take these casings and use them to make jewelry or other keepsakes that honor the men and women who have served in the military.

Tribute to the Fallen

Another special tradition that you may come across on Veterans Day is the tribute to the fallen. This is a special event that honors those who have given their lives while serving in the armed forces. This can include visiting a cemetery where veterans are buried and holding a special ceremony at that site. Or it can include visiting a cemetery to place flowers or American flags on the graves of the fallen. If you’re visiting a cemetery during this special event, you may notice that there will be two dates engraved on the headstones. These dates represent when the person was born and when they passed away. Many people who visit the graves on Veterans Day will place American flags on the dates of death of the fallen.

The National Moment of Silence

The National Moment of Silence is another important tradition that takes place on Veterans Day. This tradition is a moment of silence dedicated to those who have served in the military and are currently serving. During this moment, everyone stops what they’re doing to pay respect to the veterans, and they remain silent. During this special moment, you may notice that many people will place their hands on their hearts, bow their heads, or hold their hands over their hearts. During this moment, you might want to take the opportunity to thank a veteran for their service.

Conclusion

There are many special traditions that you can observe on Veterans Day. You can host an evening vigil at a cemetery, join a Monument Dedication Ceremony, and attend a special service at your place of worship during this special day. You can also take the time to thank a veteran for their service, and you can share your gratitude for all that veterans have done for our country. With so many ways to celebrate Veterans Day, you can make this a truly special day that you remember for years to come!