Veterans Day speech template (United States)
Published 10 October 2026 · Date checked on 5 October 2026 · Written by the Cue Card Converter team at EventProgrammer, event production professionals
Veterans Day, observed every year on November 11, honors all who have served in the US armed forces, in wartime and in peacetime. The date began as Armistice Day, marking the end of fighting in the First World War in 1918, and was renamed Veterans Day in 1954. It is a federal holiday. Communities hold parades, school programs and ceremonies, and a national wreath-laying takes place at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
- Date
- November 11
- Next dates
- Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Thursday, November 11, 2027
Saturday, November 11, 2028 - Country
- United States
- Tone
- Appreciative – thanks and tribute
- Typical events
- School assemblies, workplace recognition events, parades, veterans' halls, city ceremonies and community breakfasts or lunches organized for local veterans and their families.
- Length
- 221 spoken words · about 1.5 min at 130 words a minute · 5 cue cards
The Veterans Day speech, ready as cue cards
A complete host script in 5 cards, about 1.5 minutes of speaking. Open it in the editor to add your names, change the card size or highlights, and print.
- WELCOME1 / 5
Good morning, and welcome. I'm {Your name}, and on behalf of {Organization}, thank you for joining us this Veterans Day. We are honored to have so many veterans, service members and their families in the room. This morning is about you, and about saying thank you properly. - WHY NOVEMBER 112 / 5
This date began as Armistice Day, marking the end of the fighting in the First World War in 1918. In 1954, it was renamed Veterans Day: a day to thank everyone who has worn the uniform of our armed forces, in wartime and in peace, at home and overseas. - RECOGNIZING OUR VETERANS3 / 5
We will now play the songs of each branch of the armed forces. When you hear the song of your branch, please stand, or raise your hand, so we can recognize you.
[ARMED FORCES MEDLEY – VETERANS STAND BY BRANCH]
To every veteran here today: thank you. - OUR GUEST SPEAKER4 / 5
It is now my honor to introduce {Guest speaker, rank and branch}, who served for {Years of service} and continues to support veterans in our community. Please join me in welcoming our speaker.
[APPLAUSE – SPEAKER TO LECTERN] - CLOSING5 / 5
Thank you to our speaker, and to everyone who made this morning possible. Before you go, take a moment to thank a veteran personally, and to listen to their story. Gratitude means most when it lasts beyond one day. To all who served, and to the families who served alongside you: thank you.
Red is used only for names, titles, organisations, dates, times and section headings. Replace the words in {curly brackets} with your own details; lines in [SQUARE BRACKETS] are stage directions and are not read aloud.
How to adapt it
- Veterans Day honors everyone who served, while Memorial Day honors those who died in service. Keep the focus on thanking the veterans in your audience and their families.
- The Armed Forces Medley plays each branch's song in turn. Explain in advance that veterans may stand for their branch, and check that your version includes every branch represented in the room.
- The official name is Veterans Day, with no apostrophe. Use that spelling on printed programs, signs and slides.
- Ask veterans beforehand whether they are comfortable being named or asked to stand. Some prefer quiet recognition, and family members of veterans who have died may also attend.
Print and rehearse
“Edit and print these cards” opens the script in the free cue card maker, where you can choose A5, 4 × 6 or 3 × 5 inch cards, print several per sheet with cut lines or export PDF, PowerPoint and Word, and rehearse full screen in practice mode. To write your own programme around it, see how to write an MC script and the run of show template.
Sources
Date and background checked on 5 October 2026 against: American holidays | USAGov. Customs vary between organisations and regions; always follow the official programme of your event.
More United States speech templates
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- Memorial Day · Last Monday in May
- Juneteenth · June 19
- Independence Day · July 4
- Thanksgiving · Fourth Thursday in November