Veterans Day 2025

purpose

• To CELEBRATE and APPRECIATE our nation’s veterans and active duty service members.
• To LEARN about those that defend our country.
• To HAVE FUN making music and sharing it with others.

Expectations

• Keep your bodies calm and controlled at all times.
• Participate with your best effort.
• Pay attention and remember our purpose.
• Be good examples to those around you.
• Use the restroom before the program.
• Sing to the audience, not to the screen. The screen is meant to give you confidence and reminders rather than be your focus. Use it only when you need it.
• Don’t sing too loud, but rather blend your singing voices with the people next to you.
• Some natural movement while singing is fine, but don’t become distracting.

Notes to Staff

• Please allow time for your kids to practice their songs in class before the program.
• Check this page daily for updates.
• We will have an all school rehearsal- day/time TBD.
• Remind your students to sing in their high singing voices at a medium volume level. Lower grades especially tend to “yell” once they know the song, and with 550 students all singing at the same time they’ll need reminders to keep their volume down. I often tell the kids that the people next to them should be able to hear them sing, but not across the room.
• If your kids are struggling with the lyrics, I suggest you leave the recordings off and use the slides to simply speak each line and have them repeat it back to you. This slows down the process and gives them time to memorize.
• If your kids are struggling with the notes, have them only listen to the songs first. We don’t want them to learn the songs the wrong way, so it’s better than they listen first and add their own singing once they really know the tune.
• I decided to only include songs with vocal tracks at 100% and 50% volume on this page. Classes with strong singing are welcome to use the 50% version, but until they are really comfortable most classes should only use the track at 100% volume.
• Please look at the volunteer list below and let me know if you’re able to help. This program is a monster, and I’d be very grateful for the support.

Volunteers Needed

1. Volunteer to count/organize flags- Will (complete)
2. Volunteer to create/run front PowerPoint
3. Volunteer to create Veteran survey- Kyle/Will (complete)
4. Volunteer to create print materials
5. Volunteers to clean gym equipment- Garrett/Will (complete)
6. 2-3 volunteers to measure and lay tape lines- Amy/Will (complete)
7. 2-3 volunteers to set up stage risers
8. Volunteer to film video
9. Volunteer to coordinate custodial riser/chair set up
10. Volunteer to run lights
11. Volunteer to run sound
12. Volunteer to move American flag
13. Volunteer to pursue message from JD Vance- Kevin/Will (complete)
14. Volunteer to coordinate student letters
15. Volunteer to measure and lay Velcro lines for flag tunnel- Will (complete)

Program Order

Welcome Heroes (Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4)

The Star-Spangled Banner (Grades 3, 4)

Together We Stand (Grades K*, 1*, 2*, 3, 4)

*Choruses only

Don’t Mess With Us (Kindergarten)

Thank You Soldiers (Grades 1, 2, 3*, 4*)

*Choruses only

Oh I Love America (Grades K, 1, 2, 3, 4)

If you share in the mission of Bow Tie Music and wish to help sustain the work I do, you can support me with a tip at buymeacoffee.com/BowTieMusic.
I’m deeply grateful for your generosity and encouragement—it truly makes a difference!  
And for hundreds more lesson ideas, make sure you subscribe to my YouTube channel at YouTube.com/BowTieMusic!