45 Veterans Day Songs, From Patriotic Classics to Songs About Soldiers

What song is good for Veterans Day?

For a ceremony, the most-used songs are "The Star-Spangled Banner", "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless the U.S.A." by Lee Greenwood, followed by "Taps" for a moment of silence. For a more personal tribute, country songs like "American Soldier" by Toby Keith and "Some Gave All" by Billy Ray Cyrus are favorites, and a medley of the service branch songs lets every veteran in the room stand when they hear their own.

What is the difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day songs?

Veterans Day honors everyone who has served, living or not, so the tone can be grateful and even celebratory. Memorial Day honors those who died in service, so songs are usually more solemn. For Veterans Day, mix thanks and pride with a few reflective songs.

Patriotic classics

1. "The Star-Spangled Banner": the national anthem, usually sung at the start of a ceremony.
2. "America the Beautiful": the hymn many people wish were the anthem.
3. "God Bless America", Irving Berlin: made famous by Kate Smith.
4. "God Bless the U.S.A.", Lee Greenwood: the most-played patriotic song at veterans' events.
5. "My Country, 'Tis of Thee": a classic for choirs and schools.
6. "Battle Hymn of the Republic": powerful with a full choir.
7. "This Land Is Your Land", Woody Guthrie: a folk song every child knows.
8. "You're a Grand Old Flag", George M. Cohan: a cheerful march for school programs.
9. "The Stars and Stripes Forever", John Philip Sousa: the national march.

Country songs about soldiers and veterans

10. "American Soldier", Toby Keith: a tribute to the everyday service member.
11. "Some Gave All", Billy Ray Cyrus: about a veteran who gave everything.
12. "8th of November", Big & Rich: the story of a Vietnam veteran.
13. "Letters from Home", John Michael Montgomery: a soldier reading letters from his family.
14. "Arlington", Trace Adkins: told from a fallen soldier's resting place.
15. "If You're Reading This", Tim McGraw: a letter left behind by a soldier.
16. "Travelin' Soldier", The Chicks: a young soldier and the girl who waited.
17. "I Just Came Back (From a War)", Darryl Worley: a veteran coming home changed.
18. "Have You Forgotten?", Darryl Worley: written after September 11.
19. "Riding with Private Malone", David Ball: a car that once belonged to a soldier.
20. "Dear Uncle Sam", Loretta Lynn: a wife's letter during the Vietnam War.
21. "Where the Stars and Stripes and the Eagle Fly", Aaron Tippin: a proud anthem.
22. "'Til the Last Shot's Fired", Trace Adkins: a song for every war.
23. "I Drive Your Truck", Lee Brice: inspired by a family who lost a son in Afghanistan.

Rock and folk songs about soldiers

24. "Born in the U.S.A.", Bruce Springsteen: about a Vietnam veteran's struggle at home, not a simple anthem.
25. "Brothers in Arms", Dire Straits: the bond of people who served together.
26. "Dress Blues", Jason Isbell: a funeral for a young Marine.
27. "Goodnight Saigon", Billy Joel: told by Vietnam veterans.
28. "Rooster", Alice in Chains: written about Jerry Cantrell's father in Vietnam.
29. "Bring Him Home", from Les Misérables: a prayer for a young soldier.

Songs from the World War II era

30. "(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover", Vera Lynn: hope for peace.
31. "We'll Meet Again", Vera Lynn: the farewell song of a generation.
32. "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", The Andrews Sisters: an upbeat classic.
33. "I'll Be Seeing You", Billie Holiday: missing someone who is far away.
34. "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree", The Andrews Sisters: a playful wartime favorite.

Hymns and ceremonial music

35. "Taps": the bugle call for remembrance.
36. "Amazing Grace": often played on bagpipes.
37. "Eternal Father, Strong to Save": the Navy Hymn, sung for those at sea.
38. "Armed Forces Medley": the branch songs in one arrangement, so every veteran can stand for their own.

The service branch songs

39. "The Army Goes Rolling Along": U.S. Army.
40. "Anchors Aweigh": U.S. Navy.
41. "The Marines' Hymn": U.S. Marine Corps.
42. "The U.S. Air Force": often called "Wild Blue Yonder".
43. "Semper Paratus": U.S. Coast Guard.
44. "Semper Supra": U.S. Space Force.
45. "The Caissons Go Rolling Along": the older field artillery song the Army anthem grew out of.

Veterans Day songs for kids and school programs

For an elementary program, choose songs with simple choruses and room for actions or sign language: "You're a Grand Old Flag", "This Land Is Your Land", "America the Beautiful", "God Bless the U.S.A." and "Fifty Nifty United States". Invite veterans from the community to stand during the Armed Forces Medley; for many children it is the first time they see what the day is about.

Veterans Day songs for choir

For a school or community choir, "America the Beautiful", "Battle Hymn of the Republic", "God Bless America" and an arrangement of the Armed Forces Medley are the standards. Middle school choirs with changing voices do well with unison arrangements of "This Land Is Your Land" or "My Country, 'Tis of Thee".

Songs for a Veterans Day parade

Parades call for marches and upbeat songs: "The Stars and Stripes Forever", "You're a Grand Old Flag", "Anchors Aweigh", "The Army Goes Rolling Along" and "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" keep the crowd clapping as the veterans pass by.

Veterans Day songs for church

Churches often include "Eternal Father, Strong to Save", "America the Beautiful", "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "God Bless America", with a moment of silence and "Taps" or "Amazing Grace" at the end of the service.

Songs for a veteran's homecoming or funeral

For a homecoming, "Letters from Home", "God Bless the U.S.A." and "Brothers in Arms" fit the moment. For a military funeral, "Taps" is performed as part of military honors, arranged through the branch the veteran served in; families often add "Amazing Grace" on bagpipes, "Arlington" or "Some Gave All". See our memorial service songs.

A song about the veteran in your family

Every song above honors veterans in general. A personalized song can honor one: the grandfather who served in Korea, the mom who deployed twice, the brother who came home. Their name, their branch, the places they served and the person they are at home. It makes a moving Veterans Day, retirement or welcome-home gift. See our gift ideas for someone leaving the military, gifts for deployed military and our list of songs for grandpa.

How to create a song for a veteran

1. Choose a style from 14 genres: country, folk, rock, gospel-inspired and more.
2. Add their name, rank or what the family calls them.
3. Share three details from their service and their life at home.
4. Review the lyrics and edit or regenerate them for free before any music is made.
5. Listen to 4 free 45-second previews and choose your favorite.

The full 3 to 4 minute song costs $24.99, or $29.99 for Premium with four full versions and editable lyrics. You get the MP3, a gift page and the lyrics as a PDF.

Thank them in a way they will never forget: create a song for a veteran and hear four previews for free.