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Self Organizing - Visit with Veterans

Self Organizing - Visit with Veterans

Overview
Your family can cheer up veterans with a visit to a veterans’ home or hospital. Make a patriotic placemat to break the ice and learn about the interesting lives of the veterans you are visiting.  Sweeten up your visit with a “Hugs and Kisses” treat. A visit from your family will let them know their service to our country is not forgotten. 

Goals

  • To show appreciation for veterans’ service to America
  • To cheer up veterans with a friendly visit
  • To learn about their service to our country
  • To develop compassion for the people you are serving.

Supporting Organizations

  • Local veterans’ homes and hospitals
  • Local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW)

Materials
Patriotic Place Mats

  • Red, white or blue construction paper
  • Markers, glue
  • Clear contact paper or a laminating machine
  • List of patriotic questions
  • Stars or other patriotic stickers (optional)

“Hugs and Kisses”

  • Red, blue and clear plastic cellophane paper
  • Red, blue, white or silver curling ribbon 
  • Cardboard paper for gift tags
  • Chocolate candy such as “Kisses” and “Hugs”

 Instructions

  • Connect with an appropriate veteran’s agency or hospital and tell them about your project. Schedule a time to visit with the veterans and ask how many of each item to bring if you choose to make placemats or “Hugs and Kisses.”
  • To make Patriotic Placemats
    • Cut multiple sized stars from contrasting construction paper.
    • Choose several questions from the list below or make up questions to write on the stars.
    • Glue the stars to the place mats or cut stripes and make a collage of stars and stripes.
    • Add patriotic or star stickers.
    • Cover the top of the place mat with clear contact paper or use a laminating machine.
    • Sample questions for Patriotic Placemats:
      • How old were you when you joined the armed forces?
      • Which branch did you serve in?
      • What was it like to train to be a soldier?
      • Did you fly a plane or a helicopter, sail on a ship or drive a tank?
      • What were some of your favorite songs when you were in the armed forces?
      • Did you travel to a foreign country? Which foreign country did you travel to?
      • How was the food in the armed forces?
      • What kind of food did you eat overseas?
      • What was the first thing you ate when you returned home?
  • To make Hugs and Kisses
    • Wrap pieces of chocolate “Kisses and Hugs” in the cellophane paper and tie with contrasting colored ribbon.
    • Create a small paper “Thank-you” gift tags which say, for example, “Thank you for keeping America free, from a family who cares.”  Punch hole in one corner of the card and attach to the ribbons.
  • Visiting a Veterans Home or Hospital
    • Your patriotic placemats will help you start a conversation with people you have never met, or help you learn more about veterans who may be your relatives or friends.  Patriotic placemats will make your visit fun and interesting.
    • Give your “Hugs and Kisses to the veterans during your visit.

Additional Resources

Reflection
After your volunteer project, it is important for families to reflect on their experiences.  Choose one of the Reflection Activities from the list below.

Magic Wand – This activity uses the concept of a magic wand to help children talk about and reflect on their volunteer experience.  Have your family sit in a circle.  Tell everyone that you have just found a magic wand that allows you to grant wishes, and pose the questions, “If you could grant a wish to one person, who would it be, and what do you think he or she would wish for?”  “How do you think what we did today will make someone feel, and how do you think that is similar to granting a wish?”

Family Pictionary – Have each member of the family take turns drawing something about their volunteer experience and how they felt about it.  While each person is drawing, have everyone else try to guess what the picture represents.  After each picture is drawn, the artist should talk about the picture and why they chose to draw it.