Veteran's Day Coloring Pages
Welcome to my Veteran's Day coloring pages section.
Veterans Day is a special U.S. holiday that honors all men and women who have served in the military, in times of war and peace. It is celebrated each year on November 11th, the same day that World War I officially ended in 1918. Originally called Armistice Day, the holiday marked the agreement to stop fighting at the “eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.” In 1954, the U.S. renamed it Veterans Day to honor all American service members, past and present. It is a day to say thank you, show respect, and recognize the courage of those who protect the country.
Jump to: World War I | World War II | Welcome Home | Veterans | More Printables | Vocabulary | Poppies | Armed Forces | Military Dogs
World War I Hero Stories
Not every hero of World War I carried a rifle. One was a stray dog who earned the rank of sergeant, one was a pigeon who flew 25 miles through gunfire with a message on his leg, and 223 were women who ran telephone switchboards for the Army and were known as "The Hello Girls".
World War II Hero Stories
Some of the most important messages of World War II were sent in Navajo. The Marines asked Navajo men to build a code from their own language, and the enemy never broke it. Back home, more than 300,000 women worked in aircraft factories, and a song about a riveter named Rosie became a symbol for all of them.
Rosie the Riveter coloring pages
Welcome Home
The soldier and his daughter in the comic strip are made up, but welcome-home moments just like theirs happened at train stations all over the country after both world wars.
Veterans and Thank You Pages
More Veterans Day Printables
Word Art
Crosses
The poem that made the poppy famous, In Flanders Fields, describes poppies blowing between rows of crosses in a soldiers' cemetery in Belgium. There's a Flanders Field American Cemetery there too, where American soldiers from World War I rest under rows of white marble crosses.
Taps
Taps started during the Civil War in 1862 as the bugle call for lights out at night, and before long it was being played at soldiers' funerals too. A bugle has no valves like a trumpet does, so it can only play a handful of notes, which is why Taps sounds so simple and clear.
Military Symbols
Vocabulary Words
Moina Michael, a teacher from Georgia, read In Flanders Fields in 1918 and promised to wear a red poppy for the soldiers from then on. Her idea caught on, and it's the reason Americans still hand out poppies today.
Poppies and Remembrance
Throughout the world, bright red poppies are a symbol of remembrance and respect for those who have served in the military. Inspired by the poem In Flanders Fields, the poppy became a symbol of hope and courage after World War I. Today, the American Legion runs a program where volunteers distribute artificial paper poppies to honor veterans and raise awareness about their sacrifices.
Poppies are especially connected with Memorial Day, the holiday in May when Americans remember and honor soldiers who died while serving.
Even on Veterans Day, you may see poppies at parades, ceremonies, and educational events. Whether in a classroom, at a memorial, or in a community program, poppies help teach new generations the value of remembering and honoring those who protect their country.
Remembrance Day and the Armed Forces
Veteran's Day and Remembrance Day are both celebrated on November 11th, but Remembrance Day (in the Commonwealth countries like Britain, Australia and Canada) is more like Memorial Day in the US -- confusing, I know!
Veteran's Day celebrates veterans past and present so spending some time learning about the different branches of the US military can be a good addition for kids!
Famous Military Dogs
These real-life dogs became heroes for their bravery and service.
Sergeant Stubby (WWI) – A stray who warned soldiers of gas attacks and once caught a German spy.
read the story about Sgt Stubby
Chips (WWII) – A mixed-breed who charged an enemy machine-gun nest and saved his platoon.
Lucca (USMC) – A german shepherd / belgian malinois mix, served over 400 missions and saved many lives before losing a leg to an explosive.
Cairo (Navy SEAL): A Belgian Malinois who helped during the mission to locate Osama bin Laden.
Lex (Iraq War): Refused to leave his fallen handler and was later adopted by the family.
