Celebrate Veterans Day with Online Activities
Honoring American Vets with Free Printables and Interactive Ideas
Nov 8, 2009
Each year, a special day is set aside to honor the brave men and women who have served in the United States Armed Forces. Formerly known as Armistice Day, Veterans Day is an annual event celebrated in the United States each November 11th, unless the 11th occurs on a weekend. If November 11 occurs on a Sunday, the event is celebrated the following Monday. If Veterans Day falls on a Saturday, the celebration is observed on the preceding Friday.
Veterans Day History:
Veterans Day has had a few changes over the years. On November 11, 1919, President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Armistice Day in order to recognize the end of World War I hostilities, which took place during the 11th hour, on the 11th day of the 11th month – 11:00 A.M. on November 11, 1918. The day was officially named Armistice Day in a Congressional Act in 1926.
Years later, the event expanded to include war veterans of World War II. In 1954, President Dwight D Eisenhower signed HR7786, officially changing Armistice Day to Veterans Day. All veterans of all wars would be honored on Veterans Day.
Due to the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, Veterans Day was celebrated on the fourth Monday in October. In 1978, the federal holiday was moved back to its original date, November 11th.
Veterans Day Today:
Many Americans celebrate Veterans Day by attending parades, military exhibits and various ceremonies in various communities and cities across the nation. At 11:00 A.M. the Arlington National Cemetery holds an annual ceremony steeped in tradition at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The President of the United States places a wreath at the Tomb while “Taps” is being played.
Often confused with Memorial Day, Veterans Day honors and commemorates all those who have honorably served in the American military, both the living and the dead. As of 2007, there were more than 23 million military veterans in the United States.
The following websites offer many fun and educational Veterans Day activities for children.
Free Interactive Veterans Day Activities and Projects for Children:
- VA Kids Games and Activities– This website provides an array of activities for children in kindergarten through the 5th grade. Flash is required.
- The interactive Coloring Book includes 16 coloring pages for young children that can also be printed.
- Inspire creativity with the Make a Medal activity. Just select the ribbon, shape and word and print.
- Patriotic Pairs is an online concentration and memory game. Three different levels are available.
- The Drawing activity includes 16 patriotic coloring pages.
- And Beat the Blocks, is a fun block game for old and young alike.
- Veterans Day Interactive Puzzles and Quizzes – The Holiday Zone offers numerous online activities that are not only fun, but are educational as well. Interactive activities include three word search puzzles that can be played online or printed for offline fun. Other online projects include a crossword puzzle, several trivia games, and a vocabulary quiz. Java is required.
- DLTK-Holidays Veterans Day Printables – This website offers many different types of patriotic printable activities for children that are both fun and educational. From coloring pages and awards, to certificates, door knob hangers and greeting cards, DLTK-Holidays provides activities for both Veterans Day as well as Canada’s Remembrance Day.
Make it a family affair this Veterans Day with the interactive activities listed above.
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