American’s Veterans have done everything asked of them in their mission to serve our country and it is never too late to give them a hero’s welcome home. Hospice staff may provide the last opportunity for Veterans to feel that their service was not in vain, and that they are appreciated. These tips and instructions on special events like pinning ceremonies can help you and your team honor Veterans.
Everyday Tips to Help You Honor Veterans
Simple acts of gratitude at the end-of-life can make up for a lack of appreciation or recognition during the Veteran’s lifetime, especially for those Veterans who were never welcomed home or thanked for their service. As hospice professionals, the following are tips you and your staff can use to engage, honor and recognize the Veterans you serve:
- Give Veterans an opportunity to tell their stories.
- Respect Veterans’ service, their feelings, and any suggestions they might offer.
- Thank Veterans for their service to our country.
- When approaching Veterans for their participation, consider bringing another Veteran with you.
- Show appreciation for the families of Veterans.
- Always be sincere, caring, compassionate and ready and able to listen to what a Veteran or his or her family member has to share about the situation they are dealing with.
- Be supportive and non-judgmental and always validate their feelings and concerns.
- Be honest, sincere, caring and respectful.
- Accept, without judgment, the Veteran as he/she is.
- It might take longer for some Veterans to trust you. Be patient and listen.
- Expect the Veteran’s sharing to occur over a period of time.
Holding Recognition Events
Recognition Events are a valuable and impactful way to honor and express gratitude for a Veteran’s service. Recognition events concurrently provide Veterans with a sense of meaning and fulfillment, offer comfort to family and friends, and increase community members’ awareness. These events can take a variety of forms, but their core intention to honor and recognize Veterans for their sacrifice and service remains consistent.
Recognition events can be public or private, planned or spontaneous, honor many Veterans or a single Veteran. While pinning ceremonies are the most common recognition event employed by WHV partners, presentation of a token of gratitude is suggested, but not required. WHV Level 5 partners routinely host and participate in recognition events such as Veteran’s Day ceremonies, celebratory dinners, parades, Veteran hospice volunteer recognition ceremonies, and more!
Pinning Ceremonies
Pinning ceremonies publicly acknowledge the military service and sacrifices made by the Veteran and his/her family. The ceremony gives an opportunity for each veteran to share part of his or her story. By doing so, a sense of meaning and purpose can be gained by the Veteran.
There are two basic kinds of pinning ceremonies.
Planned Pinning Ceremony
A planned ceremony is one coordinated to enable family and staff (as many as possible) to be present for the ceremony. Sometimes, it will be connected to a holiday such as Veterans Day or Memorial Day. In most cases, the Veterans will share some of their stories and the staff will have insight as to the importance of each Veteran’s military service. It is not uncommon for the family to be unaware of these stories if the veteran didn’t talk about his/her service or role in the military. The chaplain or social worker may have noted a need of the Veteran to find meaning and purpose for his/her life. Having a sense of meaning and purpose becomes more important at the end of life. We all want to know our life and work has value.
Unexpected or Spontaneous Opportunities for Pinning Ceremonies
You can also thank Veterans in informal or unexpected settings, such when staff visits a patient’s home or facility for an admission or care visit. One’s judgment chooses the right time to do the pinning. While perhaps spontaneous, it is always good to present the pin in front of an audience – even a small one — especially if can include the patient’s family. It helps to have a small supply of pins with you during visits, since one never knows when an opportunity will present itself.
Read our brief guide on holding Pinning Ceremonies to learn about questions you can ask during the ceremony and how you can can prepare.
Recognizing Military Observance Dates
Throughout the year, there are several military observance dates including holidays reserved in honor of Veterans and designated dates marking the anniversary of significant events. We Honor Veterans partners and other community groups often host events or activities to honor Veterans in recognition of these dates.
The information below highlights particular military observance dates commonly recognized by We Honor Veteran Partners as well as ideas for how your organization might choose to observe these dates.
- Vietnam Veteran’s Day – March 29: In observation of this date, Level 5 WHV partners host Welcome Home Vietnam Veteran’s Day Events for their communities. Learn how one WHV partner celebrated this event at their local Veterans Home.
- Memorial Day – observed on the last Monday of May: To recognize the military personnel who died while serving our nation, WHV partners might coordinate community groups to lay wreaths at the graves of fallen soldiers.
- Month of the Military Caregiver – observed throughout May: Throughout May, WHV partners can organize a campaign to provide their staff with information on resources available to Veteran caregivers or host an in service to review WHV’s webinar overview of the VA Caregiver Support Program.
- Veteran’s Day – November 11: In observation of this day, WHV partners can provide education at a community organization, such as a library, nursing school, or rotary club, on the importance of recognizing and honoring the sacrifices of all Veterans at end of life.
A full calendar of Military Observance dates is available on Veteran.com.
Take Part in the Veterans History Project
The Veterans History Project is a great way to honor and pay special tribute to Veterans. A project of the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress, The Veterans History Project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. See if Veterans in your care are interested in submitting their story.
Other Ways to Honor Veterans
- Make sure you keep track of military observances using a Military Observances Calendar so that you can recognize Veterans’ service on the appropriate days.
- Use our Veteran Appreciation/Recognition Certificates (PPT) templates.
- Write a Veterans’ Day Op. Ed. for a local publication or your hospice’s newsletter. Use our template to get started.
- Work with local Veteran’s groups and the Veteran’s Affairs office to create Veteran to Veteran Letters of Thanks.
- You can get materials such as certificate holders and pins for pinning ceremonies for your use through our NHPCO Marketplace. These can help you when planning ways to honor veterans.
Read stories submitted by our WHV Partners to get inspired on how you can honor veterans in your care.
