Veterans Day, observed in the States on November 11, honors and pays tribute to the courageous men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Services: Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, and Coast Guard. This day is an opportunity for the nation to express gratitude for their sacrifices and contributions to the safety and freedom of the United States. Each branch of the Armed Services proudly has its own distinctive song that reflects its unique ethos and traditions.

Recording

This is an amazing recording featuring all six songs. I would really like to give proper credit for it. I discovered it on YouTube, but unfortunately, there was no attribution provided. I also searched various streaming platforms for “Armed Services Medley,” but it didn’t appear there. I even tried using the Shazam app to identify it, but it was unable to find any information. If you happen to know the group that performed this piece and the individual who arranged it, please reach out to me so I can give them the recognition they deserve.

Lyrics

I utilized Clipchamp’s karaoke text tool to incorporate lyrics that highlight in sync with the music. Occasionally, the timing aligns perfectly, while at other moments, it may be slightly off. If you find them useful, please don't hesitate to use them. The lyrics I included are from the “2024 Memorial Day Concert at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C.”

Rhythm or Body Percussion

This play-along includes both rhythm and body percussion. Therefore, your youngest students can read the body percussion pictures. They include:

• Tapping knees - Eighth notes or Quavers

• Marching or clapping hands - Quarter notes or Crotchets

• Tapping the knees followed by clapping your hands - Dotted Quarter note followed by an eighth note

• Step then slide - Half note or Minim

• Clap and hold - Dotted half note

• Clap and wave a hands or hands in the air - Whole note

• One “sh” (can be spoken or gestured) - Quarter rest

• Two “sh” (can be spoken or gestured) - Half rest

The older elementary students can perform this as a rhythm play-along using non-pitched classroom percussion instruments like rhythm sticks and more. They include:

Tapping knees - Eighth notes or Quavers

• Quarter notes or Crotchets

• Dotted Quarter note followed by an eighth note

• Half note or Minim

• Dotted half note

• Whole note

• Quarter rest

• Half rest

Manipulatives

There are various manipulatives available to support your teaching in the classroom. These include slides featuring both rhythm notation and body percussion. Here are some helpful tips for teaching this concept:

• Start by asking students what they know about Veterans Day. For younger children, keep it simple by explaining that it’s about thanking those who serve in the military and protect our country.

• Introduce the slide deck and teach or practice each rhythm pattern.

• After going over the patterns, utilize the wheel of names to select students to demonstrate each pattern before they choose their instrument or participate in the body percussion play-along with the video.

• Remind students to listen for the introductions before each song; they should look for the “Rea-dy go” cue before starting their performance.

• If necessary, adjust the Playback Speed Controls located in the ⚙ settings tool.

You can find the manipulatives on my Buy Me a Coffee Channel at https://buymeacoffee.com/elmusedtech

I hope that you enjoy this play-along video for Veteran’s Day!

Coming Soon!