Many of the people your team cares for served in the military. Some talk about it freely. Others haven't spoken about it in decades. Either way, the end of life is often when that service comes back to the surface, through pride, through old memories, and sometimes through pain that was never fully set down.
If your hospice wants to honor Veterans well, there's a free national program built for exactly that, and many hospices still don't know about it. It's called We Honor Veterans, and this guide explains what it is, what it offers, and how your team can join.
Noted & Charmed is not affiliated with We Honor Veterans. We share this because we believe in what they do and want more Veterans and families to benefit from it.
What Is We Honor Veterans?
We Honor Veterans (WHV) is a program of the National Alliance for Care at Home (formerly NHPCO), created in partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Its focus is helping hospice teams practice respectful inquiry, compassionate listening, and grateful acknowledgment with the Veterans they serve.
Hospices that join become WHV Partners. Partners get education, tools, and a clear path for building Veteran-centered care into everyday practice. There are now more than 3,000 partners across the country.
What Does It Cost?
Nothing. The program is free for hospice organizations. Your hospice doesn't need to be a member of the National Alliance to be a partner at Levels 1 through 4.
What Your Hospice Gets
As a partner, your team gains access to resources such as:
- Veteran pinning ceremony guides, including a Spanish-language version
- Certificates of Recognition to present to Veterans and their families
- Certificates for Veterans of foreign militaries
- Education on Veterans' end-of-life needs, including topics like women Veterans, rural and homeless Veterans, and soul injury
- Guidance on working with the VA and Veterans service organizations
- Partner networking calls to learn from other hospices
- A listing in the WHV Partner Directory, so families can find you
- The right to display the WHV partner logo on your website and materials as you reach each level
What Is a Veteran Pinning Ceremony?
A pinning ceremony is a short, meaningful moment when hospice staff or volunteers thank a Veteran for their service and present them with a commemorative pin, often with a certificate. It can happen at the bedside with family gathered, or quietly with just the Veteran and one staff member.
Ceremonies can be planned or spontaneous. WHV encourages hospices to think about the ceremony early, ideally at admission, because hospice time is unpredictable. Many teams invite the Veteran or a family member to share part of their story first. Some hospices add touches of their own, like handmade honor quilts from local volunteers.
For many families, the pinning becomes one of the most treasured memories of the hospice journey. It's also a moment many Veterans never expected: being seen and thanked, at the end, for what they gave.
A few tips from experience:
- Ask, don't assume. Not every Veteran wants a ceremony. Some carry painful memories. Let them choose.
- Bring a Veteran if you can. Pairing a Veteran volunteer with a Veteran patient often opens doors.
- Include the family. Spouses and children served too, in their own way.
- Take photos only with permission. Families often treasure them later.
- Remember Vietnam Veterans. Many never received a welcome home. Some hospices say it simply: "Welcome home."
How to Join: Step by Step
- Visit the We Honor Veterans website at wehonorveterans.org and read the partner overview.
- Enroll as a "Recruit" by completing the Partner Commitment Form. Every hospice starts here.
- Watch for your confirmation email. WHV staff will confirm your Recruit status.
- Work through the levels (1 to 5) using the Partner Portal. Early steps include identifying the hospice and palliative care contact at your nearest VA medical center and building relationships with local Veterans service organizations.
- Report your activities in the portal as you go. You'll receive a certificate and logo for each level reached.
How to Contact We Honor Veterans
- Website: wehonorveterans.org
- Email: veterans@allianceforcareathome.org
- Join as a hospice partner: Hospice Partners page
- Already a partner? Log in through the Partner Portal on their website.
Not a hospice? WHV also welcomes other community health care organizations that care for seriously ill Veterans, such as home health and palliative care groups.
Honoring Veterans Beyond the Pinning
The pinning ceremony is often just the beginning. When the time comes, families want the funeral to reflect that same honor. These free guides can help your team and the families you serve:
- Military Funeral Order of Service
- Military Funeral Prayers by Branch
- Military & Veteran Obituary Examples
- Military Honors Programs in Our Program Portal
You'll also find free printables made for hospice teams, including grief letters, a memorial service kit, and family guides, on our For Hospice & Care Teams page.
A Final Thought
Every Veteran deserves to hear "thank you" one more time, and to know their story mattered. We Honor Veterans makes it easier for hospice teams to say it well. If your hospice isn't a partner yet, today is a good day to start.