Decorations
Decorate the meeting room with red, white and blue patriotic decorations. Display military items along with the logo for each branch of service. Images of these can be found on Pinterest. Use a military statue or plaque with flowers on the worship center. Display pictures of active and veteran military service personnel associated with the corps.
Program Outline
- Lead the women in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
- Show a YouTube®video about the origins of Veteran’s Day.
- Invite the women to share what Veteran’s Day means to them or share stories a family member who is a veteran may have told them.
Refreshments
Serve a white cake with strawberries and blueberries in the shape of an American flag. You can find samples on Pinterest. Vanilla and strawberry ice cream along with red punch will carry out the theme.
Service Project Ideas — Craft Item
Make patriotic craft items to take to a local hospital or care facility to share with residents who are veterans. An easy craft is a flag candleholder. You need a large glass jar (with the label removed), small American flags, Mod PodgeGloss® and battery operated tea lights. For the directions go to Pinterest.
Items for Homeless Veterans
Coordinate with the corps social service caseworker for the distribution of the bags.
Place the following items in a zip–lock bag:
- Roll of Life Savers or other hard candy
- Rice Krispies®Treats or Granola Bars
- Ritz Cheddar Snack Mix® or other Trail Mix
- Easy-open package of tuna or canned meats
- Plastic knife, fork and spoon with a napkin
VA Hospital
Contact The Salvation Army Veterans Administration Voluntary Services Representative for your local Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC), or a local hospital where veterans are patients and provide an activity such as a patriotic party, special food treats, or a movie night.
Host a Veteran Appreciation Reception and invite organizations such as the VFW, American Legion.
Serve the Lord
We read in Romans 12:11 “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.” This month we celebrate Veterans Day across the nation. The men and women who protect our country serve with great love. Love is being willing to get involved and share with those who are often forgotten.
Service also requires faith. Believing that God will do what He has promised “… Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed” (Josh. 23:14). Recently I read a devotional in Faith’s Checkbook, a collection of one–minute devotions by Charles H. Spurgeon, titled You Make the Trenches: “For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink’” (2 Kings 3:16, 17, KJV). Three armies were perishing of thirst. Although the Lord sent neither cloud nor rain, He supplied an abundance of water. He is not dependent upon ordinary methods, but can surprise His people with acts of wisdom and power. Thus are we made to see more of God than ordinary processes could have revealed. Although the Lord may not appear for us in the way we expect, yet He will provide for us.
Sadly, we too often fail to exhibit true and practical faith. Let us this day be on the outlook for answers to prayer. As the child who went to a meeting to pray for rain took an umbrella with her, so let us truly and practically expect the Lord to bless us. Let us make the valley full of ditches and expect to see them all filled.”
Your faithful service will be greatly rewarded by a faithful God. Lastly, service requires dedication to completion. As you enter the main corridor of a VAMC facility, you often see this quote scrolled across the wall: “Serving those who served.” This is a reminder that patients there served their country and us.
In closing, share the poem Flanders Field that honors those who served our country. You can find the words and information about its origin on the Internet at: http://www.flandersfieldsmusic.com/thepoem.html.
