The United States celebrates Veterans Day on November 11th to honor all who have served in the armed forces. Originally, Veterans Day was named Armistice Day to commemorate the armistice reached on Nov. 11, 1918, that ended World War I.

The most famous of all Veterans Day observances is held at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. The observance is held at 11 a.m., the same time of the signing of the armistice to end World War I. The service includes two minutes of silence, and the president placing a wreath at the tomb.

All Americans nationwide are encouraged to display the flag and recognize U.S. veterans with proper ceremony. Emporia, Kansas, the home of Alvin J. King, is home to one of the more famous Veterans Day ceremonies. On Oct. 31, 2003, Emporia was recognized by Congress as the “Founding City of the Veterans Day Holiday.”

The unofficial but well-known flower of Veterans Day is the poppy. This first became the symbol to remember fallen soldiers after John McCrae wrote a poem called In Flanders Fields on May 3, 1915. McCrae was a Canadian doctor and Lieutenant Colonel in the Canadian army. He wrote about how millions of poppy flowers grew in the Flanders field, where fallen troops had been buried.

In Flanders Fields

by Colonel John McCrae

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below

We are the dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

After this poem was published, veterans groups began to adopt it as a sign of remembrance and respect for those who died, and even those who served in World War I. Today, the flower has come to be a symbol of reverence for any person who served in the forces during any war. The poppy is often worn and distributed on Veterans Day.

While Veterans Day used to be a day for remembering fallen soldiers in past wars, it is now a day that is set aside for reflection, honor and remembrance for those soldiers who served and died, soldiers who served and lived, and those who are still serving today. Veterans Day activities take special care to give thanks to veterans that are still living.

Here are a few ideas on how to make this Veterans Day especially memorable, while also honoring those who served.

•  Thank a veteran – Call or write a thank you letter to all the veterans you know. Let them know you appreciate the time they served to protect our rights and freedoms
• Fly an American Flag outside your home!
• Pray for, send a gift, and thank the families who have lost loved ones in the service
• Attend a memorial service – check with your local chamber of commerce to see when and where local veterans have a memorial service planned. They often enjoy and appreciate having guests.
• Make fun, patriotic foods and desserts with your children, while teaching them the meaning behind Veterans Day.
• Send a care package to someone currently in the service – there are many programs care packages can be sent through such as: ourmilitary.mil/care-packages, operationgratitude.com, and adoptaussoldier.org
• Make a donation. Many charities exist to help veterans and their families. Some recommended ones are: Fisher Home Foundation, Thanks USA and Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust.

What is Clay Aiken doing this Veterans Day? Wherever he is or whatever he is doing, I am sure he will acknowledge the importance of the day and help teach his young son about patriotism.

What are you doing to celebrate Veteran’s Day?