November 11 is Veterans Day and while every day is a good day to honor our brave veterans and give thanks to retired soldiers for their service, it's always good to have a national holiday to inspire us to action.
So many of us here come from military families, and as the stepdaughter of a veteran myself, I know just how much a message of thanks and gratitude can mean. My own girls call their Pop-Pop every year on Veterans Day to thank him and they write him letters of gratitude, like this one my youngest wrote last year, shown below.
(You have to love that she wants to know whether he could eat candy and get cake and ice cream at the time. The burning questions of an 8-year-old!)
If you want to go beyond thanking your own family members, I've got a great organization that can help you with getting letters, colorful drawings, or care packages to our troops.
Have your child sign with just their first name (no last names or addresses), and in no time, their good wishes will be on their way to our troops and veterans.
(Do keep in mind that Veterans Day is designated especially to honor our wonderful vets, though any time is a good time to write to our active troops.)
If your kids want to send a happy holiday message, mail it early in November so it has time to be sorted and sent, and check the Letter Writing Guide for any current deadlines.
To me, it's a lovely way of giving back to those who serve and protect us. And there is something so meaningful, especially in the world of digital notes, to receive a handwritten letter.
Alternately, you can deliver letters of thanks and artwork to a local Vet Center, which you can find through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Call ahead first to ask how they'd like to receive them.
Updated for Veterans Day 2026 with current ways to send letters and artwork.
Related: 19 random acts of kindness you can have fun doing with your kids
I really like A Million Thanks, which collects and distributes letters of thanks and support, then sends them directly to our active, reserve, and veteran military. Kids can create their own letters or artwork to send -- check out this free printable thank a veteran coloring page from Crayola. Then request A Million Thanks' free Letter Writing Guide on their site. Their mailing address changes from time to time, so the guide is where you'll find the current one, plus any rules for what can go in the envelope.
Have your child sign with just their first name (no last names or addresses), and in no time, their good wishes will be on their way to our troops and veterans.
(Do keep in mind that Veterans Day is designated especially to honor our wonderful vets, though any time is a good time to write to our active troops.)
If your kids want to send a happy holiday message, mail it early in November so it has time to be sorted and sent, and check the Letter Writing Guide for any current deadlines.
To me, it's a lovely way of giving back to those who serve and protect us. And there is something so meaningful, especially in the world of digital notes, to receive a handwritten letter.
Alternately, you can deliver letters of thanks and artwork to a local Vet Center, which you can find through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Call ahead first to ask how they'd like to receive them.More ways kids can say thanks
Operation Gratitude sends care packages and letters to troops, veterans and first responders. Once you sign up as a volunteer, you get access to their online hub with letter templates and instructions for delivering what you've made, so it's a nice next step for families who want to make this a regular thing.
Thank the veteran you know. A grandparent, neighbor, coach or family friend will probably treasure a card from your kid more than anything. A phone call or video chat on November 11 counts too.
Tips for a great thank-you letter
- Start with a simple thank you, then add a little about your kid: their age, their favorite subject, their dog's name.
- Little kids can draw a picture and dictate one line for you to write on it.
- Keep it upbeat. Holiday wishes, jokes and drawings all go over well.
- First names only, and no home address or school name.
