Veterans Day Performance Questions Answered

Veterans Day is November 11, and many of you are planning special performances or assemblies. Ever wonder if you are using the correct protocols and customs? I am a seasoned Marine Corps spouse stationed in Stuttgart, Germany, teaching music for the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). I would love to share in your musical celebration by providing resources and answers to commonly asked questions for one of my favorite holidays.

What is a common misconception when planning Veterans Day programs?

I am frequently asked what I choose to program for Veterans Day. What I find challenging is the use of the term “patriotic” when accessing resources available to music teachers. Patriotic music is appropriate for these events, but it is helpful to read the lyrics to ensure they align with the correct holiday. Veterans Day differs from Memorial Day. Veterans Day honors those serving and who have served in wartime and peacetime. Memorial Day is a holiday to honor and mourn military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Another confusing area for civilians is the terms used to describe service members. Each military branch has a unique mission, training system, history, uniform, and esprit de corps with associated language, titles, and ranks. Please consider and use the correct titles when extending gratitude or addressing large groups of veterans and active duty personnel. Not all veterans are soldiers . Listed below are the terms used by each branch:

• Coast Guard: Coast Guardsmen/Coast Guardswomen
• Space Force: Guardians
• Air Force: Airmen/ Airwomen
• Air National Guard: Guardsmen/Guardswomen but likely prefer Airman/Airwoman
• Marines: Marines
• Navy: Sailors
• Army: Soldiers
• National Guard: National Guardsmen/Guardswomen but likely prefer soldier

It may be tempting to use a nickname as a term of endearment (i.e., “Jarhead,” “Joe,” etc.) but, much like saluting, these are for exchanges between active duty servicemembers and veterans.

Who do you include in Veterans Day programs?

There is variance when defining veterans. Under Title 38 of the U.S. Code for Veterans Benefits, a veteran is a person who served in the active military, naval, or air service and was honorably discharged. However, according to the Department of Defense, Veterans Day is meant to “honor all veterans of the uniformed services who served or are still serving during times of peace as well as war.”

Can students salute when singing an armed forces medley?

Great question! There are specific guidelines about when, how, and to whom the full-hand salute is given. A salute is for someone who has earned the right to do so. You must be 17 to enlist with parental consent (different for Army and National Guard) in the military, and a college degree is required to receive a commission. A salute is a gesture and sign of respect for active duty and veterans, and there is a specific technique. Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts have 2- and 3-finger salutes, which differ from active duty and veteran salutes. Here is the order for the salute for active duty.

For service songs, veterans and active duty stand at full attention or salute (depending on the branch). For spouses, we have guidelines, too. When the “Marines’ Hymn” is played, I stand with my hands by my side (good singing posture) and sing. Civilians of any age do not salute.

What about saluting for choreography?

Adding a salute to choreography may depend on the context and style of a song, but I do not program this gesture. Military titles of all ranks are earned; neither I nor my students have gone through the arduous process of enlisting, commissioning, or discharging from military service. If you want students to display a sign of respect, a suitable alternative would be a gesture that communicates a message of thanks. Perhaps the sign language for “thank you” or another option would be appropriate.

What should singers do with their hands while performing the national anthem?

When my students sing the anthem, we use good singing posture with hands by our side. Protocol suggests singing with hands by the side or with hand over heart, but I do not opt for hand over heart as I am trying my hardest to teach students how to sing when they already like to do such interesting things with their hands. ( How many of you just pictured your students ?)

When performing an armed forces medley, what is a common or respectful way to ask veterans to stand when they hear the song for their branch?

Before the medley or song is played, announcing that you will play the service songs and asking those to stand when their branch song is played is ideal. However, due to protocol, veterans and active-duty service members will stand without an announcement. Prompting the audience to applaud after the start of each song is helpful. The service song medley is my favorite part of the program! I get very boisterous, especially during the “Marines’ Hymn,” as do veterans from each branch. It's an important and meaningful part of branch culture, and on a joint-service base where all branches are represented, it gets competitive. Veterans who do not sing will typically sing their branch’s song. I am looking forward to this in November, as are my returning students. A helpful tip when looking for recordings is to request permission from the branch websites. These can be found with a quick Google search (i.e., Air Force Bands music). These websites also have free, downloadable files recorded by the branch bands.

Is it acceptable to change the lyrics of the military theme songs to be more kid-friendly?

For example, changing “At 'em, boys, Give 'er the gun!” to “At ‘em boys, together as one!" in the Air Force song.

I see this question often. The “gun” in the Air Force song refers to gunning the engine, not a weapon. In addition, if Airmen and Airwomen are in attendance, not only will they sing the original lyrics, but it’s immediately followed by a boisterous and loud-spoken echo. Please do not change the lyrics. The songs are for the veterans, and they hold these songs as an important part of branch culture. Explaining to students what the lyrics mean solves questions about lyrics, and if you have a parent with questions, refer them to the official Air Force website with the lyrics. The Air Force officially changed lyrics to inclusive language in 2020, and it’s listed on their website .

There's not enough time to learn an armed forces medley, but we want to play a recording. Is there a respectful way for students to participate other than singing?

Yes! I wholeheartedly support developmentally appropriate practices that don’t require me to stop teaching for months to rehearse. I teach my students the associated behavior for the medley, and they clap along to reinforce steady beat. Truthfully, most get so enamored with the sounds and sights of the service members that I don’t have them sing so they can enjoy the experience.

What about the Space Force? My armed forces medley doesn't include it.

Play the Space Force song first before your medley. It’s only about 1:15. This branch was in development before 2019, and many attached to the Air Force have made lateral moves into the Space Force. Space Force is an equally important part of the Department of Defense, and there are veterans from this branch.

Besides military themes, what other songs would be appropriate for Veterans Day events?

I do songs that align with where my students are and don’t require me to stop teaching to rehearse outside of my teaching weave. I use poem recitation, original songs like childhood chants, student-created artwork to display, movement activities, and rounds with Orff instrument accompaniment to make a program meaningful and within my scope and sequence. I brought back "Fifty Nifty" for third grade (recorded accompaniment) this year. 4th and 5th graders are doing two-part canons in a major and minor key with Orff accompaniment, and 5th grade is playing the ukulele and singing “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.” This is a staple in our program since it’s a standard choral audition piece. We add poetry (some original by students, some read), and I am doing a live artistic installation with Aaron Copland's “Fanfare for the Common Man.” We don't have to prepare the national or German anthem since Germany is our host nation. The kids know these already. Lower grades are doing poems, movement activities, and little songs within their grade level melodic/rhythmic motives and vocal range.

Another option is a non-patriotic song with lyrics veterans can relate to, like Jay Althouse's arrangement of “Homeward Bound." The lyrics will resonate with any veteran and family member. Deployments are complicated, and when away from home, the idea of returning helps service members push through.

Do you play “Taps” during your program?

It is common and appropriate to have a moment of silence during a Veterans Day program, but I do not play “Taps.” My students have deployed parents, and though we are never disconnected from the reality of our lifestyle, I do not want to exacerbate an already stressful situation. This bugle call is best for Memorial Day.

For those who don't have assemblies, what do you recommend is the best way to honor the day/week with our students?

Some great Veterans Day short videos on YouTube and websites explain the day's significance. It is also helpful to distinguish between Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Your community has local, active-duty, and veteran-based organizations such as the American Legion and VFW. Most branches have recruiting offices in each city and town. Inviting veterans to speak to your class, learning a song, and finding a community organization to share it with is meaningful. Encouraging a time of reflection and gratitude fits well within November, as does listening and responding to quality patriotic music. Any gesture and effort you contribute towards awareness and appreciation is well-received.