In honor of Veterans Day, I’m waving the flag from the archives and sharing a tablescape with a patriotic nod to Thanksgiving.
Veterans Day is a day set aside to give thanks for American veterans who served our country. Veterans Day originated as “Armistice Day” in 1919 on November 11th, the first anniversary of the signing of the armistice at the end of World War I.
In 1954, Armistice Day was changed to Veterans Day, paying tribute to all American veterans, especially those living veterans who served their country honorably during war or peacetime.
I’ve always loved vintage postcards. Millions of postcards were printed, imported, sold and mailed in the U.S. during the years of 1905 – 1915, known as “The Golden Age of Postcards”. According to official U.S. Post Office figures for the year ending June 30, 1908, approximately seven hundred million postcards had been mailed in this country, with that number increasing to over nine hundred million by 1913.
Postcards with patriotic symbols and flags gained popularity prior and during World War I.
I loved this charming image of a boy riding a turkey and waving a flag! I found these images at the Graphics Fairy, available for download for a Patriotic Thanksgiving table.
Napkins are folded to mimic a turkey fantail.
For best results, choose a fabric napkin that has some ‘body’ to help the fantail hold its shape. You can find the easy tutorial and how to create your turkey fantail napkins, HERE.
Pumpkins, leaves, and nuts parade down the table for a casual and easy Thanksgiving centerpiece.
And a pair of boys in Navy uniforms carry American flags, parading with a proud Tom turkey in a basket.
A plaid tablecloth provides a warm palette of pumpkin and brown for the table.
White embossed turkey plates are layered on Victorian English Pottery Turkey by Edward Challinor has an acorn and oak leaf border.
An ear of Indian corn at each place setting adds a harvest note. . .
And colorful foil-wrapped chocolate turkeys at each place setting provide a Thanksgiving treat.
Table Details:
White turkey plates / Pottery Barn, several years ago
Victorian English Pottery Turkey by Edward Challinor / HomeGoods
Mini turkey tureens / World Market, several years ago
Plaid Tablecloth and White Chargers / HomeGoods
Copper Chargers and Napkin Rings / Hobby Lobby
Napkins / Pier1
Flatware / Towle Seville
Goblets / Mikasa French Countryside
Where the glorious Star Spangled Banner waves,
May there ever be cause for Thanksgiving days.
We’re thankful for our veterans’ patriotism and willingness to sacrifice and serve.
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A lovely tribute to our veterans~
I love the postcards and I am going to try and make the turkey fantail napkins.
Thank you for the lovely tribute to our veterans. It is especially meaningful to me. My sweet 90 year old Daddy served in the Korean War, was wounded and awarded the Purple Heart. I applaud all veterans who sacrificed to keep us free. Once again, thank you Mary!
That’s a great table, Mary. I still have tow WWII living veterans in my family who I’ll be calling and giving a shout out to today. Thank you to ALL our veterans!
Special prayers today. Your tablescapes spark such sentiment…God Bless America. franki
Mary, I ad no more than wish my husband a happy Veterans Day, when I opened up my computer to find this special post. Seriously this honors my two favorite topics, Gratitude and Patriotism. You do it beautifully. To say I’m envious of your wonderful collection of Veterans Day postcards, is an understatement. I want to savor every detail of this table again and again, so thank you for posting it again. It is a lovely tribute to each veteran of our country. My favorite quote, Where the glorious Star Spangled Banner waves,
May there ever be cause for Thanksgiving days.
Love your tribute. Are some of your cards and plaques from Moonlight & Roses?
Thank you for naming Moonlight & Roses. I love using vintage postcards for various things and my guy at the local antique shop packed up and disappeared.
A wonderful tribute to our veterans! Love the tablescape. The vintage postcards are so colorful. Happy Veterans Day to all who served! You are appreciated. Enjoy your afternoon Mary. Clara ❤️
You have some darling images, love your water backdrop too. Wonderful tribute.
Love everything about this table setting! What a wonderful tribute to Veteran’s, to honor them on Thanksgiving! Any Veteran’s in your family will be very pleased with this setting. Who knew you could so easily mix fall colors with red, white, and blue! Perfect!
Thank you for the salute and tribute to our veterans Mary. Your table is absolutely beautiful and I love your vintage postcards too.
Your cheery vintage greetings certainly brightened my day! I love the Navy boys escorting the turkey! Happy Veterans Day and Thanksgiving season! 🧡🦃🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Love everything about this. Great job blending Fall colors with our flag!
Your tables are always impeccable, but this one is just exquisite! I love, love, love how you combined the season with Veteran’s Day. It is so classy and so warm. Thank you for the great ideas. Lori Lucas
I’m loving this table Mary! So many wonderful elements and the fact that you combined Veterans Day with Thanksgiving is genius. We should all be thankful for our veterans! 🇺🇸
Lovely Thanksgiving pictures. Have a Blessed Thanksgiving Mary
Marilyn,Joan and Marion
I’d be happy to sit at your patriotic Thanksgiving table, Mary. Those mini Turkey soup tureens are so cute, and that flatware…swoon!! I’d also be happy with a foil covered 🦃chocolate treat!!
Oh Mary, what a loving tribute to all Veteran’s! This warms my heart! Today is the 16th anniversary of my WWII Veteran dad’s passing and we always thought it was so fitting for God to call him home on Veteran’s Day. Those vintage post cards are so SPECIAL and reflective of a blessed nation. Your table is lovely! ♥️♥️♥️♥️ Thank you for taking the time and energy to honor all Veteran’s. ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you, for supporting our service members and remembering Thanksgiving
A beautiful tribute Mary, and the vintage postcards are such a perfect way to demonstrate our love of country, service and patriotism through the years, especially the ones with the proud Tom turkeys! I loved the historical postcard facts and the way you’ve woven God, country and Thanksgiving throughout your beautiful fall table. Thank you for honoring these incredible selfless people who fight to keep us free…
Jenna
A lovely tribute to our Veterans! Thank you for this Mary!
I love that you have combined these two holidays into one magnificent table. The postcards add lots of color and sentimentality.
Love it! Love it! Love it!! 🇺🇸❤️🦃
Mary, Your collection of turkey plates and those wonderful vintage postcards are amazing! I could look at those post cards and relish the artful details for a long time. Those are to be cherished as I am sure you do. The patriotic combined with Thanksgiving is especially nice.
Great post.
Loved this post! Patriotism and Thanksgiving, we should all be more grateful!
Thank you Mary for remembering our veterans. As a widow of a marine who fought in Vietnam this means so much. God bless America.