(In 1921, an unknown World War I
American soldier was buried in Arlington National Cemetery in a spot
on a hillside overlooking the Potomac River and city of Washington.
This location became the country's primary destination for the
veneration of America's veterans. Similar ceremonies took place in
England and France on that same date, November 11th, and
the three focused attention on the ending of the fighting in World
War I at 11am on November 11th, 1918 (the 11th
hour of the 11th day of the 11th month). The
date became known as “Armistice Day” and was later changed to
honor all who have served in American Wars. We now recognize it as
Veterans Day.*)
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| A warm book, perfect for Veteran's Day |
Sure, your kids are probably learning about
it in school, but if, like me, you have relatives who fought for our
country and you'd like to reinforce the importance of Veteran's Day,
here are three great books you can share with your kids:
Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin – In this
story, narrated by a little boy, he explains that, “My dad is a
superhero.” No, he doesn't wear a cape or carry a laser gun, but
he does wear fatigues and carries a rifle. The son explains many
of the day-to-day actions soldiers perform like driving a tank,
jumping out of an airplane, and working long hours far away from his
family. Aimed at kindergarteners and younger, the book contains
bright, simple illustrations that show what the father is doing while
he's away from his much-missed son. I love the tone of Hero Dad –
you can feel the love and pride the boy has for his dad. This is a
treasure for a child with a parent deployed because they'll be able
to picture, in their minds, what their missing parent is doing and
may help them feel closer to that parent while they're far away.
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| Another surefire Veteran's Day classic! |
The Wall by Eve Bunting – A young
father takes his son to the Vietnam War Memorial where they look to
find the name of the boy's grandfather who died in the conflict.
They search seemingly endless rows and rows of names before finally finding Grandpa's.
This is a solemn book, yet it's not heavy-handed at all. You get a
sense of loss, but there's love and honor here, too. The dad tells
his son that, “I'm proud that your grandfather's name is on this
wall” while the son agrees, but innocently adds that “I'd rather have my
grandpa here.” The Wall is the perfect catalyst for parents and
grandparents to discuss family members and friends who made the
ultimate sacrifice for their country. It's for kids in preschool
through perhaps first or second grade.
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| Why IS the poppy the symbol of veterans? |
The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael And
Her Tribute To Veterans by Barbara Walsh – Ever wonder why the
Veterans give out red poppies at events and outside supermarkets? I
did, too, until I read this book which tells the story of a
schoolteacher from Georgia who was deeply affected when some of her
students and friends became soldiers in World War I. Moina worked
tirelessly to make the red poppy (seen by soldiers popping up amid
the trenches, craters, and otherwise barren battlefields) as the
symbol to remember and honor soldiers. honor the war veterans.
This book is targeted toward kids in grades three through five and a
portion of the book's proceeds supports the National
Military Family Association's Operation Purple®, which benefits
children of the U.S. military.
Veterans Day offers us the priceless
chance to share some of the history and sacrifices men, women, and
their families have made for this country. Reading with them gives
kids the chance to ask questions and explore the topic of war within
the safe reaches of the people they love most. Don't miss this
opportunity to share Veteran' Day with your kids!
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