This scavenger hunt is designed to help educate students on the importance of Veterans Day and other related areas.  Students seem to know that this is a day where they do not have school, but many do not really have an understanding of why it is observed.  By using the Internet and the addresses given, they will need to answer the questions below.  This in turn should help the students understand why we observe this holiday. 
 

** This page is for my father, grandfather, great uncle and all other veterans who have served their country proudly.

Celebrate America's Freedoms--Veterans Day

1. Find the celebrated ending of World War I.  _________________________
    (hour, day, month)
2. When did Armistice Day become a national holiday?  __________________

     ____________________________________________________________
3. Why does The Old Guard keep day and night vigils at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier?  _______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________ 

_______________________________________________________________________

Origins of Flag Day

United States Flag

1.  When was the official flag established?  ____________________________

2.  When was the first time the Stars and Stripes flew in a Flag Day celebration? ________________________________________

3.  When was Flag Day voted to be a permanent holiday? _______________________________

Guidelines for Display of the Flag

1.  During what types of weather should a flag not be flown? Why?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

2.  How should a flag be placed over a casket?  ________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

3.  List 3 things one should never do, out of respect, to the flag.  ___________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Old Glory

1.  Who was the first person to use the name "Old Glory"?  _______________

_______________________________________________________________

2.  Where did Captain Driver hide his flag?  ___________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

3.  Where is this flag today?  ________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Flying the American Flag at Half Staff

1.  What is an easy way to remember when to fly the flag at half-staff?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
2.  How long should a flag be flown at half-staff after the President of the 
     United States dies?

_______________________________________________________________

3.  Who issued the proclamation stating when to fly the flag at half-staff?
     When did this happen?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

The Pledge of Allegiance

1.  How many words are there in "The Pledge of Allegiance"?  ____________

2.  What was "The Pledge of Allegiance" written for?  ___________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________
3.  When did school children first recite "The Pledge of Allegiance"?

_______________________________________________________________

4.  What does "One Nation indivisible" refer to ?  _______________________

_______________________________________________________________

5.  How does "The Pledge of Allegiance" now read?  ____________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

American Bald Eagle

1.  How long has the bald eagle been our national bird?  __________________

2.  Name the four gold coins in which the eagle appears on the reverse side.

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

3.  Why has the eagle declined in recent times?  ________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

The Star Spangled Banner

1. When did "The Star Spangled Banner" officially become the national 
      anthem?
                   ____________________________________________________

2.  Name two other songs that were considered for use as the national
     anthem.
                 _____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

3.  How many verses does "The Star Spangled Banner" have and what is the 
     last line of each verse. 
                                                _______________________________________________ 

_______________________________________________________________________

The Story of Taps

1.  When was the song given the name "taps"?  _________________________

2.  By what date was it regulation to play taps at military funerals?  ________

3.  When is taps now played?  ______________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Gun Salute

1.  In 1841, the gun salute was standardized to how many guns?  __________

2.  When was the 21-gun salute formally adopted?  _____________________

3.  Why is it believed that gun salutes are set off in odd numbers? 

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Origins of Memorial Day

1.  When was Decoration Day established?  ___________________________

2.  Where is the official birthplace of Memorial Day?  ___________________

_______________________________________________________________

3.  When was Memorial Day declared a national holiday?  ________________

_______________________________________________________________

4.  How many Americans have died in the nation's wars?

_______________________________________________________________________

National Cemeteries

1.  When did national cemeteries begin?  ______________________________

2.  Who were declared eligible for burial in national cemeteries after World
     War II?
                ______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

3.  Name the 3 departments that oversee the national cemeteries.

_______________________________________________________________________ 

_______________________________________________________________________

Arlington National Cemetery

1.  How many people visit Arlington National Cemetery every year?

_______________________________________________________________

2.  When was the first soldier buried in Arlington?  ______________________

3.  Who can be buried here?  _______________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

4.  Name 4 prominent Americans buried in Arlington.
 

_______________________________________________________________________ 

_______________________________________________________________________ 

_______________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

2.  Name the following War Memorials:

War Memorial #1 _______________________________________	War Memorial #2 _______________________________
War Memorial #3 _______________________________________	War Memorial #3 _________________________________

Memorial Poem

1.  What is the name of the following poem and who wrote it?

_______________________________________________________________

                         In Flanders fields the poppies blow
                         Between the crosses, row on row,
                        That mark our place; and in the sky
                         The larks, still bravely singing, fly
                        Scarce heard amid the guns below. 

                         We are the Dead. Short days ago
                       We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
                       Loved and were loved, and now we lie
                                In Flanders fields. 

                         Take up our quarrel with the foe!
                       To you from failing hands, we throw
                        The torch-Be yours to hold it high!
                         If ye break faith with us who die
                      We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
                                In Flanders fields. 
 

War Memorial

1.  What is this a picture of and what war is it a memorial for?

_______________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

     Along with the sites given above, the following sites contain information related to veterans and Veterans Day.  Look at these sites and find out some incredible information about what this day means to our country and the people who have fought to defend it.

Major US Wars and Military Involvement: Webquests and Activities

United States Department of Veterans Affairs

United States Department of Veterans Affairs--Veterans Day

Virtual Wall

American Wars

Honoring Our Veterans--A Scavenger Hunt by Cathy Schroepfer

Vicki Blackwell's Veterans Day and Memorial Day Links

 

Click here to return to the top