Planning ahead for Veterans Day

Veterans Day is the day we all come together to show our appreciation for our nation’s Veterans and Servicemembers. How will you be celebrating on Nov. 11?

There are 51 designated regional observance sites in 31 states holding a variety of events in which you to participate.

For those who can’t make it to a regional site, consider volunteering at your nearest VA Medical Center. Volunteers are an important and invaluable resource to VA and the Veterans we serve every day. We may not be able to repay our Veterans for their sacrifices, but we can show our gratitude through volunteering.

The VA Voluntary Service offers many ways to volunteer. For the youth, there is a student volunteer program available. This program gives students the opportunity to explore health care career options, gain experience in a health care environment, learn new skills, and qualify for college scholarships. Students will have the chance to explore specialties such as: audiology and speech pathology, laboratory medicine, nursing, nutrition and food service, pharmacy, social work and more.

Corporations looking to give back can implement a company-sponsored volunteer program. This is a great way to raise community awareness and help Veterans. VA would happily tailor a program for your organization, utilize the employee’s talents in rewarding ways, and help your employees learn new skills.

Another way we can honor our Veterans is by educating others about their sacrifices and the contributions they have made to our nation. We encourage teachers to bring the Veterans Day celebration into the classroom with the help of our teacher’s guide that contains the history of Veterans Day, school activities and ways to properly honor  Veterans and Servicemembers.

For other events, visit our Veterans Day: Ceremonies and Events post here on Vantage Point.

Andre Parker is a writer/intern with the Department of Veterans Affairs.