Each year on November 11, schools across the country pause to honor those who have served in the armed forces. In Mishawaka, IN, the educational community embraces this moment not simply as a break from routine but as a chance to connect students with the meaning of service, sacrifice, and citizenship. Through assemblies, classroom activities, and partnerships with veterans’ organizations, local schools bring the significance of Veterans Day into tangible focus for young learners.
In this city, the observance of Veterans Day becomes part of the educational calendar — a teaching opportunity and a communal act of respect. Students are invited not just to learn about veterans but to engage meaningfully with their experiences, to reflect on what military service means, and to develop a deeper appreciation of the freedoms and responsibilities that follow. The following sections explore several ways that schools in Mishawaka mark this day — and the lessons that carry forward well beyond November 11th.
Student Assemblies With Veteran Speakers
Each year, schools in Mishawaka host assemblies where local veterans share their stories with students. These events provide a real-life face to the history that students read in textbooks and help bridge the gap between civilian life and military service. By listening to veterans discuss why they enlisted, how they served, and what their lives have been like since, students gain a new lens on service and sacrifice.
Beyond the speeches, assemblies often include student performances—choral selections, patriotic songs, or tributes crafted by students. At one elementary school in the district, students gathered with veterans and sang in a gymnasium. Through such programs, the local school community affirms that Veterans Day is not only a day off but a meaningful day of remembrance and respect.
Additionally, assemblies often coordinate with November 11th to reinforce the day’s historical significance. Schools may incorporate reflection moments, flag-raising segments, or a “thank‐you” banner walk. In doing so, the event goes beyond ceremony—it becomes a conduit for student empathy and civic awareness.
Engaging Classroom Projects
In classrooms throughout Mishawaka, educators use projects to help students understand the meaning of Veterans Day in a personal and creative way. Students may write thank-you letters addressed to veterans, craft art installations that depict service and sacrifice, or delve into family histories of military service. These hands-on activities allow students to internalize the lessons of service rather than recall them.
For example, nationally developed resources encourage classroom activities such as bulletin board displays, letter-writing campaigns, flag-protocol lessons, and veteran interviews. Teachers in Mishawaka draw on these and adapt them for age-appropriate levels—young students might color a soldier’s portrait and write a simple sentence of thanks; older students might research a veteran’s military branch and compose a thoughtful essay on its broader significance.
Classroom projects reinforce the lesson that November 11 is more than a date on the calendar—it’s a moment to reflect on history, duty, and community. They allow students to practice research, writing, art, and speaking skills while fostering a respectful awareness of those who served.
Partnering with Veterans’ Groups and Community Organizations
Schools in Mishawaka do not observe Veterans Day in isolation. They often partner with local veterans’ posts, military support organizations, and civic groups to deepen the impact of student programs. These collaborations may include inviting community veterans to speak, hosting joint ceremonies at local memorials, or coordinating student-led events, such as flag placements at cemeteries.
An example of such a partnership: students from a Mishawaka elementary school joined veterans at a local cemetery event to lay flags on thousands of graves, organized in cooperation with veteran support groups. This kind of collaboration shows students how the school’s observance links with broader civic acts of remembrance.
Furthermore, the city maintains a program that displays banners honoring local service members. The banners span Memorial Day through Veterans Day, allowing schools to tie local visuals and civic acknowledgements into classroom learning. When schools coordinate with these community initiatives, students see that honoring veterans is not limited to one day—it is part of a larger civic fabric.
Teaching Resources and Age-Appropriate Lessons
Effective instruction about Veterans Day relies on resources that match students’ developmental levels. For younger learners, simple read-alouds, coloring activities, and class discussions about service may suffice. For older students, educators can incorporate primary documents, veteran interviews, and research on military history. National organizations provide lesson plans and activities specifically designed for this purpose.
In Mishawaka, teachers use these resources to prepare lessons in the days leading up to November 11th. The goal is to introduce key vocabulary—such as “veteran,” “service,” and “sacrifice”—and to walk students through why the day matters today. Maintaining an educational tone that is both factual and respectful helps students understand the holiday’s historical origins and its relevance today.
Additionally, facilitating classroom reflections and discussions enables students to personalize the day’s meaning. Questions such as “What does serving our country mean?” or “How can a community thank a veteran?” invite student voice and help reinforce the educational purpose behind the observance.
Continuity Beyond the One-Day Event
While much focus is placed on November 11th, schools in Mishawaka strive to carry the lessons of veteran appreciation into the school year. Classroom units often follow through into civics, social studies, and literature, reflecting themes of service and community. Teachers encourage student groups to maintain connections with veteran organizations, perhaps organizing letter-writing after the initial project or inviting veterans back for follow-up conversations.
This continuity reinforces to students that honoring veterans is not a single event but part of a broader ethos of citizenship and gratitude. Moreover, schools may engage in annual rituals—such as school-wide observances or community partner events—that recur each year, thus embedding this respect into the school culture.
Ultimately, by weaving appreciation for veterans into the curriculum, school routines, and community partnerships, Mishawaka schools help ensure that the day remains meaningful long after the last assembly ends.
On November 11, the schools of Mishawaka, IN, come together to honor the service and sacrifice of veterans through assemblies, classroom projects, and community collaboration. But the educational value lies not only in the activities of the day—it is in how those activities connect students with larger concepts of duty, service, and citizenship. Through meaningful experiences and intentional instruction, young learners gain understanding and respect for the veterans who have given much.
By inviting veterans to share their stories, guiding students through creative and research-based projects, leveraging resources tailored to different grade levels, and linking with local veteran-support organizations, schools in Mishawaka build a robust and lasting tradition of appreciation. These efforts show that recognizing veterans is not just about one day of ceremony—it is about shaping students into informed and engaged members of their community.
As each year’s Veterans Day unfolds and then becomes part of the continuum of learning, schools in Mishawaka help students carry forward the values of gratitude and service into their lives. In doing so, the observance becomes more than a date—it becomes an integral part of the educational journey.
Sources: cmohs.org, mishawaka.in.gov, wndu.com, teachstarter.com
Header Image Source: pexels.com
