Honor veterans with poppies and cards

By
Posted on Nov 01 2016 in For Youth, Kids Projects

Since Veterans Day was first observed as Armistice Day in 1919, Americans have remembered poppies blooming on the worst battlefields in World War I. These poppies have since become a national symbol of remembrance.

Wearing or displaying poppies honors veterans who died while serving. Poppies are traditionally worn on Memorial Day, but can be worn on Veterans Day, too. Pin one of your watercolor poppies onto your shirt or make the wreath craft below to remember and honor America’s war dead.

 

What you need:

  • 1 paintbrush
  • 1 cup of water
  • 1 set of watercolor paints
  • 2 8.5×11-inch sheets of watercolor paper
  • 1 pair of scissors
  • 1 black marker
  • 1 paper plate
  • 1 roll of masking tape
  • Ribbon (if desired)

What to do:

  • Dip your paintbrush into a cup of water.
  • Place your wet paintbrush onto the red paint.
  • Form circles with a two-inch diameter using the watercolor paint. (We needed 11 circles or poppies to fill our wreath.)
  • Once the paint has dried, cut out all of your red circles.
  • Using a black marker, draw a design in the middle of your circle.
  • Cut out the middle of a paper plate so only the outer rim remains.
  • Tape your circles onto the paper plate, slightly layered and covering the paper plate.
  • Attach a ribbon to your wreath if desired.

Send a thank you card to veterans

Because of the Honor Flight Network, our country’s veterans have a chance to travel to Washington, D.C., for a day to visit the memorials that honor their service and sacrifice — all at no cost to them.

On their flight home, veterans open hand-written letters, simple cards and decorated coloring pages. This mail call is a personal and touching way to let veterans know that their sacrifices have not been forgotten.

Be creative and express your gratitude to these Hoosier heroes. Include a generic greeting, like “dear veteran,” and don’t date your message. You can mail your cards to Indy Honor Flight; P.O. Box 10; Plainfield, IN 46168, or to your local Honor Flight program.

To find the regional Honor Flight hub closest to you, visit www.honorflight.org/regional-honor-flight-hubs.