Veterans Day Ceremony
| Category: | Flag Ceremonies |
|---|---|
| Props: | U.S. flag |
| Props: | Color guard of 2 to 4 Scouts |
| Props: | Thank-you cards made by Scouts (one per veteran present, optional) |
| Props: | Recording of the Armed Forces Salute medley (optional) |
| Notes: | For a troop or pack meeting, Court of Honor, or community event on or near November 11. Find out beforehand which veterans will attend and which branch each served in. Ask whether they are comfortable being recognized; most are, a few are not. If the ceremony can be timed for 11:00 a.m. on the 11th, use the moment of silence at exactly that minute. For a longer program, add the Missing Man Table ceremony. Scoutmaster's Minutes to go with it: veterans-day and veterans-day-and-remembrance-day. |
Setup
Seat the veterans in the front row or where the Scouts can face them. The color guard forms at the back with the flag. If you have thank-you cards, give them to one Scout per veteran before the ceremony starts.
Participants
- Leader - Senior Patrol Leader, Den Chief, or adult leader
- Color Guard - two to four Scouts
- Scouts with cards - one per veteran (optional)
The Ceremony
Leader: 'Audience, please rise. Color guard, advance the colors.'
(Color guard brings the flag forward and posts it. Scouts in uniform salute; others place the right hand over the heart.)Leader: 'Please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.'
(All recite the Pledge.)Leader: 'Two. Please be seated.'
Leader: 'In November 1918, after four years of the First World War, the fighting stopped at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. That day was called Armistice Day. Today we call it Veterans Day, and it belongs to everyone who has served in our armed forces - in war or in peace, overseas or at home.'
Leader: 'We are honored to have veterans with us tonight. As I name each branch, if you served in it, please stand - or raise your hand, if standing is hard - and stay standing so we can see you.'
Leader: 'The United States Army.'
Leader: 'The United States Marine Corps.'
Leader: 'The United States Navy.'
Leader: 'The United States Air Force.'
Leader: 'The United States Space Force.'
Leader: 'The United States Coast Guard.'
Leader: 'And anyone who served in the National Guard, the Reserves, or the Merchant Marine.'
(If you have the Armed Forces Salute recording, play each branch's song as it is named instead of reading the list.)Leader: 'Scouts, please stand and face our veterans.'
(Scouts stand.)Leader: 'Scouts - salute.'
(Scouts salute. Hold for a few seconds.)Leader: 'Two. Thank you for your service.'
(Optional: Scouts with cards walk to their veteran, shake hands, and give the card. Then everyone is seated.)Leader: 'Many who served did not come home. Please join us in a moment of silence for them, and for their families.'
(Moment of silence, about fifteen seconds.)Leader: 'Audience, please rise. Color guard, retire the colors.'
(Color guard retires the flag. Salute until it has left the room.)Leader: 'Two. Thank you all.'
Tip: Branches are read here in their official order of precedence. Veterans notice. If a veteran's branch was not called, or you are not sure, the closing line about the Guard, Reserves, and Merchant Marine catches most of them - and you can always add, "and anyone we missed."