Office of Public and Intergovernmental Affairs
Veterans Day
2021 National Veterans Day Poster Contest
Calling all artists! The 2021 National Veterans Day Poster Contest is underway. Each year the Veterans Day National Committee publishes a commemorative Veterans Day poster. The Committee selects a poster from artwork submitted by artists nationwide. It also distributes the winning design to VA facilities, military installations around the world, and across cities and towns in our nation. It then serves as the cover of the official program for the Veterans Day Observance at Arlington National Cemetery.
Over the years these posters have illustrated the rich history of our country’s service men and women. The poster reflects our pride and patriotism in saluting Veterans while providing the thematic artistry for the year.
The theme for Veterans Day 2021 is centered on the centennial commemoration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Located at Arlington National Cemetery, the Tomb was initially dedicated by the Army on Armistice Day, November 11, 1921, with the burial of an unknown service member from World War I. Over the past century, additional unknowns have been buried at the Tomb, and the site has become a people’s memorial that inspires reflection on service, valor, sacrifice and mourning. This year’s Veterans Day poster competition asks artists to envision a design that evokes elements of the history, legacy, and meaning of the Tomb during its centennial anniversary. Whether inspired by historic images of the Tomb, the ceremonies and rituals that take place at the site, or the physical Tomb itself, artists should interpret the Tomb’s centennial in a way that honors its past and recognizes its continued importance in American society to all.
Submission Guidelines
- Be 18” x 24” at 300 dots per inch, scale down submissions to 9”x12.”
- The design will be used for a 1” x 1.5” lapel pin. Simple designs look best scaled down to lapel pins. If you’d like to submit a modified design for the lapel pin based off the original poster design, you may do so.
- Submissions are not restricted to “human centric” presentations, such as a joint color guard. Imagery of American icons, monuments or scenery can qualify, for example, the American flag.
- Representative of all Veterans who served. The Committee may select a particular submission but ask the artist to make modifications to the original design. Additional changes may be required prior to printing.
- Design must include the words :Veterans Day, November 11, 2021” and “Honoring all who served.”
- Include sufficient information to demonstrate that the image is the work of the artist and is not copyrighted material (i.e. photos and concepts).
- Successful designs are very simple with minimal imagery and verbiage. To view examples of past winning submissions visit: http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/gallery.asp.
Submit electronic versions as jpg images or PDF files by email to [email protected] or send copies of artwork on a CD with artwork files to:
Veterans Day National Committee (002D)Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20420
The deadline for submissions is 1 April, 2021. The Veterans Day National Committee will convene a selection sub-committee in May 2021 to review submissions and make a final selection.
Questions? - the Veterans Day Coordinator at [email protected]
2020 Veterans Day Poster Competition Winner
| Quality | Suitable For | |
|---|---|---|
 |
Low Resolution | Presentations, on screen viewing |
|
High Resolution | Printing |
Update
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be mailing individual posters this year. The electronic version of the poster is free and available for download, and may be printed at your local printing shop.
Veterans Day Poster Gallery
To view examples of past winning submissions visit: www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/gallery.asp
National Veterans Day Ceremony
The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held each year on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery . The ceremony commences precisely at 11:00 a.m. with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a parade of colors by veterans' organizations and remarks from dignitaries. The ceremony is intended to honor and thank all who served in the United States Armed Forces.
Veterans Day National Committee
The Veterans Day National Committee also selects a number of regional sites for Veterans Day observances throughout the country. From stirring parades and ceremonies to military exhibits and tributes to distinguished veterans, these events serve as models for other communities to follow in planning their own observances.
Download the 2020 Associate Membership Application.
For questions and more information about Veterans Day Observances, please contact the Veterans Day Coordinator.
