5 Thoughtful Ways of Celebrating Veterans Day At Work
The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.
– G.K. Chesterton.
It has been more than a century since World War I ended, and the US commemorates it yearly to honor the veterans. This auspicious day is known as Veterans Day, and it is observed annually on November 11th.
Although it is a federal holiday, you can still celebrate Veterans Day at work and show respect for the veterans. But how can workplaces engage their employees in celebrating this memorial event?
Let’s delve in!
Read more: 9 Memorial Day Ideas For Work
When is Veterans Day Celebrated?
Veterans Day is celebrated on November 11th to remember the veterans that served during World War I.
What is Veterans Day and the History related to it?
Veterans day is an annual celebration to monumentalize and pay tribute to the ones who served during World War I. Veterans Day honors all military veterans, including those still alive, in contrast to Memorial Day, which remembers those who passed away while serving.
Initially, in 1919, when the first World War ended, Veterans day was celebrated as Armistice Day. The main objective of Armistice Day was to remember and honor the fallen soldiers of World War I for their sacrifice and bravery. Seven years later, on November 11, 1926, Congress passed a resolution requesting that President Calvin Coolidge issue Armistice Day as a legal holiday.
Later, in the year 1945, Richard Weeks pitched the idea of expanding Armistice day to celebrate all veterans day. On May 26, 1954, eight and a half years after Raymond Weeks celebrated the first Veterans Day, Eisenhower, the president at the time and a native of Kansas, signed the legislation into law. The word "Armistice" was removed from the Act of 1938 and replaced with the word "Veterans" by the 83rd Congress. After this legislation was approved on June 1, 1954, November 11 was designated a day to honor all American veterans.
5 Ways to Celebrate Veterans Day At Work
1. Decorating the Workplace
Decorating your workplace in the national colors for the auspicious day of Veterans day celebrations is a good way to start. Some of the ideas for decorating can include the following-
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Use of a Patriotic wreath
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Wood signs with messages for the veterans
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Mason Jars painted with the American flag
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A patriotic star with the American flag
Make the most of the decorations and make the workspace a lively place so everyone, including the invited Veterans, can engage and enjoy it.
Read more: 41 Office Decor Ideas for a Stunning & Productive Workspace
2. Inviting the Veterans for a Special Lunch
Another thoughtful way of celebrating the day is organizing a special lunch for the veterans. The veterans might be family members or friends of your employees, or they can include veteran guests you can invite for the day.
Before you organize the lunch, make sure to have a set menu or a buffet with a wide variety of food items. Moreover, be mindful that apart from the usual food items, you include the things the elderly can enjoy. Also, ask your employees if their veteran family members or friends are allergic to anything so that they can appreciate the lunch.
The main goal of organizing a lunch is to break up the veterans' monotonous lives and give them a brief moment to relish the present.
Recommended Article: 5 Team Lunch Ideas To Boost Employee Engagement
3. Remembering the fallen Veterans
Veterans Day's spirit is incomplete if you do not pay your respects and remember the fallen veterans. Organize an event where everyone in the workplace can pay homage and light up candles. On top of that, you can also build a special wall of fame mentioning the fallen veterans so that everyone pays homage to their memorial.
This will help the employees and newer generations to acknowledge the sacrifices made by the veterans for the country's freedom.
4. Charity Donation for the Veterans
Another thoughtful idea to show your support for veterans is by donating to charities. The donations can be anything from money to clothes and much more. Just remember to include the things that will be beneficial to the veterans.
Moreover, make it an annual or half-yearly event so that you can keep supporting them throughout the year. Be consistent and try to keep on changing the things that you will give away to charity. This will ensure that you focus on donating the needful things to the veterans and helping the employees give back to the community.
5. Veterans Day Parade Celebrations
One way to indulge your workforce on Veterans day is to take them to a parade. Ask your employees to wear patriotic attire and carry the national flag. You can sponsor the attire for them and the ride to the parade.
The main purpose of the parade is to respect the veterans and show them support for what they did for the country. Moreover, the employees will also get time to enjoy the day while connecting with the freedom fighters and knowing their stories.
Summing It Up!
The Veterans day celebration at work is a way to help your employees understand the importance of this auspicious event. It will help them respect and honor those who sacrificed for the country's liberation. Just keep in mind to include the employees and veterans in these activities and have a good time.
FAQ
Q. Who is the father of Veterans Day?
A. Raymond Weeks is known as the Father of Veterans day as he was the driving force behind the national holiday.
Q. When was Veterans Day first celebrated?
A. Veterans day was first observed in 1919 on the first anniversary of the 1918 armistice that ended World War I.
Q. Who should be honored on Veterans Day?
A. Veterans day is mostly observed to thank and honor the living veterans for their service in the military.
Q. Which flower is the symbol of Veterans Day?
A. The Poppy flower is used as the symbol of Veterans Day.
Q. What was Veterans Day originally called?
A. Veterans day was originally called Armistice day in 1919.
Mrinmoy Rabha is a content writer and digital marketer at Vantage Circle. He is an avid follower of football and passionate about singing. For any related queries, contact editor@vantagecircle.com
