Long ago, our soldiers received welcome home parades when
they returned from battle. Sadly, this doesn't happen much anymore. I just learned that the national P.O. Box for
Holiday Mail for Heroes has been discontinued this year (but local Red Cross
chapters may take it over). Locally, the Welcome Home a Hero program at DFW airport was discontinued about 2 years ago.
I feel it is
important to teach our kids about the sacrifices that our veterans have made so
that they can appreciate all that has gone into making this great nation. We teach our kids about the men and women who have served our country as we study historical
events in our homeschool. We also bring history a little closer to home by researching our family genealogies and teachingour children about the role that their own ancestors have played in the founding and
making of this country.
With that in mind, I was just looking for some
Veteran’s Day activities that we could enjoy with our kids this week.
Here are a few sites to help you and your kids learn more about the importance of Veteran's Day:
Veteran's Day History (from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs website)
Veteran's Day Teacher's Guide (powerpoint)
Veteran's History Project
Take a Vet to School
Volunteering at the VA
In honor of Veteran's, many restaurants and businesses will offer special deals for veterans. Check out the Military Benefits website for more information.
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To let the community celebrate our American heroes, cities across the nation will often have parades, fireworks, and other family friendly events around Veteran's Day. Here are a few Veteran's Day events in Dallas-Fort Worth to celebrate our great heroes in 2014.
Dallas Veteran's Day Parade
Tuesday, November 11th with massing of the colors and the 11th hour (11:00 AM) ceremony in front of City Hall. The parade will commence following the official ceremony (approximately 1 hour). The route will start at Reunion Arena, will proceed north on Houston Street, east on Main Street, south on Ervay Street, west on Young Street, south on Akard Street and pass in review in front of City Hall.
The parade route is similar to prior years. After passing in review, parade units will turn south on Ervay and disperse south of City Hall.
Military vehicles and equipment, veterans organizations, civic and corporate displays will be available for viewing at 9:30 AM in front of City Hall and will be dismantled after the parade.
2014 Parade Theme: "Honoring Our Wounded Veterans".
Grand Marshals
Vice Admiral David B. Robinson, USN (Ret)
Corporal Jake Schick, USMC
Sergeant Vince Rios, USA
Keynote Speaker
Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst
As in years past we anticipate more than 150 units in the parade.
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Flower Mound Inaugural Veterans Day Relay Run
Flower Mound residents are invited to cheer on the participants in the inaugural Flower Mound Veterans Day Relay on Veterans Day, November 11.
From 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., participants will commemorate our nation's veterans and their service by carrying the American flag in a 15-mile relay run comprised of three-mile segments throughout Town. The course will start and end in the Lakeside DFW development, followed by a post-race celebration from 5 to 6 p.m. at the Normandy Homes' model home, 609 Sandy Lane in Flower Mound. View the relay route. .
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Veteran's Day Picnic and Ceremony
Please join the Town in honoring our veterans November 9 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Flower Mound High School, 3411 Peters Colony, in celebration of Veterans Day. A family picnic will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. that will include free hot dogs provided by the Summit Club along with cake, and lemonade. The Town will host a Veterans Review during the Veterans Day ceremony, where approximately 200 local Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and JROTC units parade before the Veterans in uniform. Everyone is welcome!
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American Heroes: Salute to Veterans
Saturday, November 8th The Colony, Texas
The Colony Five Star Complex,4100 Blair Oaks, 75056
Celebrate Veteran's Day with this patriotic annual festival.
This is a FREE event, with fun for the whole family! Tell your friends and neighbors all about it, and come help us pay tribute to Veterans, our true American Heroes! |
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Preliminary schedule for American Heroes festival: |
|
6:30am | On site registration for American Heroes 5K/10K and 1 Mile Fun Run |
8:00am | 1 Mile Fun Run begins |
8:30am | 5K and 10K Runs begin |
11:00am | Memorial Ceremony - "Honor & Remember" at Veterans Memorial plaza |
12:00pm | Carnival opens |
1:00pm | Car, Truck & Bike Show registration begins |
| Performance on Main Stage - TYLER AND THE TRIBE |
| Vendor Expo opens |
| Heroes Hut opens |
| Silent Auction begins |
2:30pm | Car, Truck & Bike Show registration ends |
| Performance on Main Stage - THIEVING BIRDS |
3:00pm | Car, Truck & Bike Show judging begins |
4:00pm | Car, Truck & Bike Show awards |
| Performance on Main Stage - ZANE WILLIAMS |
5:45pm | Heroes Ceremony on Main Stage |
6:30pm | Headline performance on Main Stage - JO DEE MESSINA |
7:00pm | Vendor Expo closes |
| Heroes Hut closes |
| Silent Auction bidding ends |
8:00pm | ALL-AMERICAN FIREWORKS! |
Midnight
| Carnival closes |
These are the ONLY Veterans Day fireworks around!
The fireworks are scheduled to begin at approximately 8:00pm on November 8th. The shoot site for this year's show will be at the Five Star Complex, making the American Heroes festival the prime viewing area for the show. Due to the close proximity that the fireworks shoot site has to the festival, this year's show will be a low level show. This will be a unique fireworks show consisting of a beautiful display of colors and choreographed to America's most patriotic music. Don't miss it!
Not able to make it to the event? Watch the show from a distance and listen to the fireworks music broadcast on 99.9fm. Music is only available within a close distance to the park, and because this year's show is a low level show we recommend that you be at the Five Star Complex or as close as possible for optimal fireworks viewing.
The beneficiary of this year's
American Heroes silent auction is the
Wounded Warrior Project.
Click the WWP logo above to make a
contribution to this very worthy cause!
No coolers or alcoholic beverages are allowed! Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at the Beer Garden area within the festival grounds.
For more information about the American Heroes festival, call The Colony Parks & Recreation Department at (972)625-1106, email the festival staff, or visit the American Heroes website.
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Lewisville ISD 16th Annual Veterans Day Celebration
Lewisville ISD¹s (LISD) will hold its 16th annual Veterans Day celebration Tuesday, Nov. 11.
- 9:30 a.m. Recognition Breakfast - Veterans and their families are invited to attend a special recognition breakfast at Timber Creek Elementary (1900 Timber Creek Road, Flower Mound). Veterans are asked to RSVP here: http://goo.gl/forms/Iy26Hk6U9Y or call 469.948.8152.
- 10:30 a.m. Public Veterans Day Ceremony - The public is invited join LISD in a "Salute to American Veterans" at the Timber Creek Administration Building (1800 Timber Creek Road, Flower Mound)
Reserved seating is available for veterans and their guests. Public may bring lawn chairs.
For more information, contact LISD Communications at 469.948.8152 or thomass@lisd.net.
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Fort Worth Veteran's Day Parade
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
The parade will stage at the LaGrave Field parking lot at North 7th Street and Main Street. Arrive no later than 9:30 AM. (Streets start closing at 9:30 AM!) Parade will start at approximately 10:00 AM and finish by noon.
PARADE RULES:
NO THROWING OF ITEMS from ANY parade float to spectators.
NO stopping the parade flow to perform or shake hands.
Members walking with the parade entry must be easily identified from spectators by the wearing of a uniform, tee shirt, vest, cap, etc. and must keep spectators away form the moving vehicles.
NO alcoholic beverages during the parade.
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Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery
2000 Mountain Creek Parkway
Dallas, TX 75211
Phone: (214) 467-3374
FAX: (214) 467-3316
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Grand Prairie Veterans Day Celebration
Tues., Nov. 11 • 10am • Veterans Memorial • 925 Conover
Join us at The Veteran’s Memorial as we pay tribute to our Veterans who have served us by keeping our freedom intact. The ceremony will include a 21-gun salute, a fly over, bag piper, and a military brass band and culminate with our traditional free “All American Lunch” of hot dogs and lemonade. Please come out and show our Veteran’s how much their sacrifices have meant to us by attending this patriotic event.
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Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Patriotic Concert
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Uptown Theater, 120 E. Main, Grand Prairie
The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra Brass Ensemble will present a patriotic concert of thrilling marches and heartfelt military salutes on Veteran’s Day at the Uptown Theater at 7:30 pm. Tickets are available at The Uptown Box Office in advance. Call The Uptown Theater at 972-237-8786 for more information.
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Farmer's Branch Veteran's Day Ceremony
Join us in honoring our nations veterans during our annual Veterans Day Celebration. We will have a patriotic ceremony followed by some great entertainment and will end with an All-American hot dog lunch! Admission is free. We encourage arriving early as the event has grown stronger within the community!
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Begins at 10:30 am
Farmers Branch Senior Center