Veterans Day is a meaningful opportunity to honor the many contributions of our nation’s heroes. In an address to mark the holiday, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks underscored the profound impact of service members’ selfless sacrifice on the enduring freedoms of all Americans.
From formal military ceremonies to personal touches that highlight a veteran’s legacy, here are some ways you can pay tribute this year.
Whether you choose to honor a loved one with a funeral or memorial event, incorporating their branch colors, uniforms, and memorabilia can bring their story to life. Displaying their medals or awards adds a deeper level of meaning. Adding personal eulogies or speeches from friends and family also helps to provide a more complete picture of your departed veteran. Other details, such as a musical salute with the playing of Taps or a flag-folding presentation, can offer a powerful and solemn farewell.
A living tribute can serve as a place of reflection and remembrance for years to come. Planting a tree, flowers, or other plants in your home garden or favorite public space allows you to connect with the departed and to grow alongside their memory.
In communities across the country, you can find and visit local tributes to veterans. The National Memorial of the American Veteran in Alexandria, VA, for example, serves as a permanent remembrance to veterans who served this nation. Currently, the site features five walls and a warriors’ court with bronze service seals and an eagle sculpture. The National Cemetery Administration is expanding the site to include an education building and additional walls.