Fairfax County is home to a large and thriving military community. According to the county’s Department of Neighborhood and Community Services, which coordinates the Veteran and Military Families Commission, more than 45,000 active-duty military, selected reserve members, and an estimated 65,000 veterans live in Fairfax County. To honor these members of our community, Fairfax County Public Library will be celebrating National Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month this November. Throughout the month, library visitors can join us at branches around the county to connect with and celebrate our military neighbors with programming that includes author talks, storytimes, demonstrations and more.  

Check out a small sample of what we have planned at a library near you:    
*Please note that dates/times of the following events are subject to change. Check the event listing for the latest information.    

Write a Letter to a Soldier! – Herndon Fortnightly Library – November 3-26
Stop into the library and write an encouraging letter or draw a picture for a soldier. Letters will be sent to the Support Our Troops organization at the end of the month. All ages. 

Veterans Day Family Fun Fest – Kingstowne Library – Saturday, November 8
Join us in celebrating those who serve and their families! We will have presentations, performances, crafts, snacks, and an opportunity to share about your military family's journey. All ages.

Letterboxing in the Library: National Veterans and Military Families Month – Chantilly Regional Library – Sunday, November 23
Ready for a different kind of scavenger hunt? Letterboxing is a hobby that combines elements of orienteering, art, and puzzle solving. Letterboxers hide small boxes in publicly accessible places (like the library or a park) and distribute clues to finding them. Each letterbox contains a hand-carved rubber stamp. A letterboxer stamps an image of it into the logbook each participant carries.
Try out this fun hobby at Chantilly Regional Library where you’ll find a series of military-themed hand-carved stamps in honor of National Veterans and Military Families Month. Drop by any time between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to get started, as hidden letterboxes will be removed at 4 p.m. Clues and logbooks will be available to participants. All Ages - children must be accompanied by an adult.

For a complete list of related events, visit bit.ly/FCPL_MilitaryFamilyAppeciation.