Veterans Day at the Marina
Veterans Day Context You Can Use
Veterans Day is observed every year on November 11th to honor all who served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The date traces to the armistice that paused World War I at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, and Congress later renamed Armistice Day to Veterans Day in 1954. The Department of Veterans Affairs also clarifies the official spelling as Veterans Day with no apostrophe. Use these points in your intro paragraph, staff scripts, and social captions so your messaging is accurate and respectful.
For on-site protocol, remember that the U.S. Flag is not lowered for Veterans Day. Half-staff is prescribed for Memorial Day until noon and by presidential order for other occasions. Fly the flag smartly and consider a brief ceremony with colors posted at opening, a reading acknowledging service, and an afternoon community photo at your marina flagpole. Link to the VA Veterans Day poster in your email so slip holders can print and display it at home or at work.
Program outline: respectful ceremony, clear offers, simple CTAs
Build a short, repeatable plan that fits a working marina.
Morning ceremony (10:45–11:10 a.m.): welcome, opening of colors, a brief reading on the history of Veterans Day, and a moment of quiet reflection at 11:00. Keep it inclusive and focused on thanks, not politics.
Military boater perks: same-day fuel discount with ID, free pumpout for veterans, or a store bundle at an at-cost price. Post a one-page rate sheet and make redemption easy at the counter.
Community partner: choose one veterans nonprofit and one local post to spotlight; add a donation jar and QR code at checkout, then reconcile publicly the following week. You can adapt the American Legion’s public ceremony language or supply a link to the VA poster for added context.
Content plan: one email on Nov 8th, one early-morning social post on Nov 11th with your schedule, and one photo recap after the ceremony. Keep all copy service-oriented and specific about times, parking, and where to gather.
Event staffing and script pack
Build a light, respectful plan that keeps normal operations moving.
Roles (60–90 minutes total):
Coordinator (1): confirms schedule, greets any color guard, cues the reading at 11:00, oversees photos.
Greeter (1): welcomes guests, hands out the one-page schedule, directs to the flag area, collects opt-in emails for a photo recap.
Floor lead (1): keeps store traffic flowing, answers service questions, processes redemptions for military ID holders.
Runner (1): manages chairs, water, and cleanup; snaps a few candid photos for the recap post.
Run of show (example):
10:45 — Welcome and note about parking and restrooms.
10:55 — Short context for Veterans Day and today’s schedule.
11:00 — Quiet reflection; colors posted if you’ve arranged it.
11:05 — Thanks to attendees; announce same-day offers; invite guests to sign the “thank you” card or banner.
11:10 — Resume normal operations; coordinator stays available for questions.
Quick scripts (keep it simple and sincere):
Greeter: “Good morning and welcome. Our Veterans Day moment begins at eleven. Here’s today’s schedule and where to gather.”
Coordinator (opening): “Thank you for joining us as we recognize those who served. We’ll pause at eleven, then share today’s marina offers for veterans and families.”
Checkout: “If you’re a veteran or active-duty family member, we’re honoring that today. I can apply your perk right here.”
Closing post (photo caption): “Honored to share this morning with our community. Thank you to all who served.”
Accessibility & comfort notes: reserve two front-row seats, mark an accessible route to the gathering spot, and keep water available. If weather is poor, shift the moment under cover and keep a clear line of sight to the flag.
One-page gift and offer menu (tailored to veterans and families)
Print a single handout and mirror it online so staff and guests see the same details. Keep each item to one line with clear redemption rules.
Same-day perks (show ID):
Fuel: 10% off up to 50 gallons.
Pumpout: Complimentary today.
Store: 15% off one apparel item or hat.
Coffee & cocoa: Complimentary for veterans and their families, 9 a.m.–noon.
Thank-you bundles (priced to move):
Harbor Essentials ($25): microfiber cloths, sunscreen, floating keychain.
Skipper Set ($50): insulated tumbler, gloves, dock-line chafe guards.
Launch Pack ($99): detail kit plus spring battery check voucher.
Service prebuys (good through spring):
Winter Watch (prepay): weekly photo check with timestamp (Dec–Feb).
Battery tending add-on: monthly top-off and inspection while in storage.
Spring launch priority: reserved window with confirmation in March.
Community give-back (optional, but recommended):
Choose one local veterans organization; place a donation jar and a QR code at checkout. Commit to posting the total raised next week.
Invite guests to sign a large “thank you for your service” card or banner you’ll display through the weekend.
Redemption notes (print at the bottom):
Perks valid Nov 11th only unless noted.
One apparel discount per veteran; cannot combine with other discounts.
Service vouchers list what’s included and how to schedule.
Donation receipts available from the partner organization upon request.
Communications playbook (email, social, on-site)
Cadence:
Nov 8th (Email): event time (10:45–11:10 a.m.), brief history note, and perks for veterans (fuel/store/pumpout). Include the official spelling Veterans Day (no apostrophe) and link the VA’s downloadable 2025 poster for those who want to display it.
Nov 11th, 7:30 a.m. (Social): schedule graphic, parking, gathering spot, and a line about the day’s meaning. If you reference national observances, note that the National Veterans Day Ceremony at Arlington begins at 11:00 a.m. (feel free to share that in Stories as context).
Nov 11th, noon (Social): photo from your ceremony with a sincere thanks and instructions for redeeming same-day perks.
Nov 12th (Email): short recap with total raised for your chosen veterans organization, plus a thank-you album.
Copy blocks you can paste:
Subject: “Veterans Day at the Marina — November 11”
Lead line: “On November 11 we pause to honor all who served. Join us for a brief moment at 11:00, then enjoy veterans perks at the dock and store.”
Caption: “Veterans Day honors service—today and every day. Ceremony 10:45–11:10 by the flagpole; fuel and store perks for veterans with ID.”
Visuals: Use the VA poster (print for your door and embed a small image in your email), and a simple map image showing parking and the flag area. (VA provides a poster download each year.)
Flag note for staff: Do not plan half-staff for Veterans Day; that protocol applies to Memorial Day until noon and to occasions specified by presidential or gubernatorial order. Fly the flag properly at full staff unless directed otherwise.
Ceremony content & partners (keep it respectful and accurate)
Program elements (10–15 minutes):
Welcome (1 min) — acknowledge veterans and families present.
Context (1–2 min) — the armistice origins and today’s purpose; keep “Veterans Day” spelling correct. Teaching materials are also available online.
11:00 pause (1 min) — quiet reflection.
Closing thanks (1–2 min) — invite guests to sign a large “thank you” card at the store.
If you’d like prepared words: The American Legion publishes a yearly guideline speech you can adapt to fit your marina; print a few copies for the coordinator and greeter.
Partner setup:
Pick one local veterans nonprofit to spotlight; place a donation jar and QR code at checkout and commit to posting the total raised on Nov 12th.
If a local Legion/VFW can present colors, coordinate arrival time, route, and seating. Keep an accessible viewing area front-row and a weather contingency (under cover, clear sightline to the flag).
Redemption clarity:
Post a one-page offer sheet at the counter (fuel/store/pumpout) with “show ID” language and any limits.
Make redemptions easy: pre-program POS buttons and a simple tally so you can report totals in your recap.
ADA access and guest comfort (quick checklist)
Set up the site so everyone can arrive, participate, and redeem offers without friction.
Parking: mark at least one accessible space near the primary entrance; add a simple map graphic at the door that shows the shortest step-free route to the flag area and the store.
Path of travel: maintain at least 36″ aisle width; remove cords and temporary displays from walkways; place non-slip mats at thresholds.
Seating: reserve two front-row seats and one adjacent companion seat; keep a clear turning radius near seating.
Hearing and visibility: use a small battery speaker or portable PA at low volume; the coordinator faces the audience; print a one-page script so guests can follow along.
Wayfinding: high-contrast signs for Parking, Ceremony, Restrooms, and Checkout; place one A-frame at the lot entrance and one near the dock gate.
Comfort: water cooler, cocoa urn, and a small bench; have a few ponchos on hand; if weather turns, move under cover while keeping a clear sightline to the flag.
Safety: confirm decks are dry and well lit; place a basic first-aid kit at the counter; designate one staffer as incident scribe.
Service animals: welcome signage at the entrance; remind staff not to pet or distract.
Veterans offer menu (print-ready)
Use the following in your preferred Word Processor – these are just examples of perks and discounts, feel free to use your own promotions.
Veterans Day at the Marina — Offers for Nov 11th
Show military or veteran ID at checkout. Offers valid today during store hours unless noted.
Same-day perks
Fuel: 10% off up to 50 gallons
Pumpout: complimentary today
Store: 15% off one apparel item or hat
Coffee and cocoa: complimentary for veterans and families, 9 a.m.–noon
Thank-you bundles
Harbor Essentials ($25): microfiber cloths, sunscreen, floating keychain
Skipper Set ($50): insulated tumbler, gloves, dock-line chafe guards
Launch Pack ($99): detail kit plus spring battery check voucher
Service prebuys
Winter Watch (Dec–Feb): weekly photo check with timestamp
Battery tending (storage period): monthly top-off and inspection
Spring launch priority: reserved window, confirmation sent in March
Community give-back
Donations accepted for our selected veterans organization at checkout (cash or QR). Totals will be posted tomorrow.
Redemption notes
One apparel discount per veteran; no stack with other discounts
Service vouchers list what is included and how to schedule
Fuel discount applies to a single transaction today
Receipts for donations available from the partner organization on request
Measurement, follow-up, and carryover to next year
Close Veterans Day in a way that feels intentional, keeps trust with your boating community, and sets you up to do this again without reinventing it.
Track the basics in real time:
Head count at the 10:45–11:10 a.m. gathering
Total fuel/perk redemptions (how many veterans actually used the offer)
Bundle sales tied to the printed veterans menu
Service prebuys sold (Winter Watch, battery tending, spring launch priority)
Total dollars raised for the veterans organization
Log those numbers on a single page and save it to a shared folder with the offer sheet, the run of show, your email subject lines, social captions, and the parking/wayfinding map. That becomes next year’s starting kit.
Before the end of the next day, post two things:
A sincere public thank you: “Thank you to everyone who joined us on November 11 to honor those who served. Together we raised $X for [organization name], and provided perks to X veterans at the marina today.”
One photo from the ceremony (flag in frame, no close-up of faces unless you have permission).
Send a short internal debrief to your team and to any outside partner (Legion post, local veterans nonprofit): what went smoothly, what guests asked for, what confused people, and any weather or access issues. Note anything that needs to be fixed next year (sound, seating, signage, ADA route, parking overflow).
Last step: lock in next season now. Put Veterans Day (November 11) on your 2026 calendar with a 30-day reminder in October to refresh the offer sheet, confirm the partner organization, and reprint the schedule with the correct year. That way the marina treats Veterans Day as a standing community event, not a last-minute scramble.
*Sign up for our free newsletter “Marina Management Journal” so you can stay up to date
About MariCorp
Maricorp is one of the largest floating boat dock manufacturing and construction companies in the United States, specializing in galvanized steel floating docks and boat lift systems. With projects spanning coast-to-coast, Maricorp provides marina consultation and design, marine construction, marina repair and renovation, and boat dock disaster response and demolition.
