Starting a Veterans Day Event at your school can be started in as little as 8 steps! It is important to create a plan, gather support, and contact local Veteran Organizations. Read through the steps below, and if you have any questions, we are here to help! Our website is also filled with tons of information to get you to the day of your event successfully!
- Plan what type of event. Depending on what you’d like to do or have time to do, hosting a breakfast or setting up a short ceremony is a great way to thank local Veterans for all that they have done in service to their country. Our website includes sample invitations and itineraries to help provide you with an idea or guide.
- Find Support within your school. Find a teacher or parent that will help to support the event. Going to the Vice Principal or Principal directly can help to get permission, help to organize the event, and also support the event.
- Get approval from the School Board, Faculty, or the Head of the School. If you did not go directly to the Principal for support, it is important to present your plan to the Principal, School Board, or the Faculty so that the event is approved by the school and can be held within all required guidelines, especially since the goal is to invite members of the community into the school.
- Reach out to local Veteran Organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Catholic War Veterans, Vietnam Veterans, etc. to extend invitations. Many of these organizations will also have more contacts to reach out to and will help guide you if you have needs such as a Color Guards or Master of Ceremony.
- Advertise in local newspapers and all school social media accounts & mailing lists to get the word out about your event. This will help to get media coverage and more Veteran attendance. For a sample press release, click here.
- Get Volunteers to assist in setup, hosting, and cleanup. Reach out to parents, school volunteers, and faculty members to help set up your event, help to host the event, and breakdown the event. Perhaps enlist older students who may need service hours.
- Ask for monetary donations from local businesses to provide the meal or purchase something small to send home with Veterans. A great thing to send home with Veterans are thank you cards signed by the students. A solicitation letter can be sent out to the local businesses to help garner donations.
Remember! Veterans Day is to honor those who served, but it is important to teach about their service and what they have done. Small events are equally creative and successful. YOUR Veterans Day event can employ a simple postcard that Camp Snoops provides students FOR FREE along with an age appropriate activity to hand out. Email us to receive your FREE postcards!
With these 8 steps you will be well on your way to hosting a Veterans Day event at your school! Contact us for help or find more tips and information about Veterans Day and Memorial Day Events on our website under Education!