Memorial Day History and Activities

Memorial Day is a day to honor those who have fallen in service of our country. It’s also the unofficial kick-off to summer and one of the best days for family gatherings and BBQs. What better way to enjoy this holiday than by spending time with loved ones while honoring the brave men and women who gave their lives?

The History of Memorial Day:

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in military service for the United States. Red poppy flowers are also often placed on crosses near the graves of fallen war heroes. The tradition of the poppy comes from the poem, ‘In Flanders Field‘, written in May 1915 by John McCrae.

Thoughts on Memorial Day:

I feel we need to be grateful every day for these wonderful brave individuals and their families. These individuals are spending time away from their loved ones in order to provide the safety in which we have all learned to expect in the United States. We should all thank their families for their sacrifices.

Common Traditions:

Typically, the American flag is flown at half-mast till noon to honor all the brave men and women we have lost over the decades. On the Thursday before Memorial Day, the 3d U.S. Infantry places small American flags at each of the more than 260,000 gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. They then patrol 24-hours a day during the weekend to ensure that each flag remains standing. Since 2001, the ‘National Moment of Remembrance Act’ has defined 3 pm local time on Memorial Day as the National Moment of Remembrance.

Activities and Crafts to do for Memorial Day:

1. Listen to veterans’ stories as you will be surprised that you have probably more around you than you know.
2. Donate to related causes. Here is a wonderful list of over 80+ charities that support military families.
3. Brush up on American history.
4. Craft your own Memorial Day poppy.
5. Write letters to soldiers and their families.
6. Put together care packages for soldiers.
7. Invite veterans over for a BBQ.
8. Watch the Memorial Day Concert.
9. Fly a flag.
10. Take a moment of silence. No matter where you live in the country, take a moment of silence at 3 p.m. local time for The National Moment of Remembrance.
11. Spend your long weekend in Washington, DC learning about our great nation and the members that fought for it.
12. Go to the National Memorial Day Parade.
13. Watch a Patriotic movie.
14. Donate flowers for Solider’s graves.
15. Deliver dessert to a local solider’s family.
16. Call a soldier’s spouse or parents.
17. Visit your local Cemetary
18. DIY red, white, and blue decor
19. Post heartfelt messages on Social Media.

Giving Back to our Service Members:

In honor of our service members, we often celebrate by having cookouts with our friends and family. As well as shopping since there is often deals and with that being said any purchases made through my affiliates will be going to help The Soldier Project this year.

The Soldier Project provides free and confidential medical treatment to thousands of military service members and their families. Their mission is:

“To provide a safety net of psychological services for military service members and their loved ones, and to educate the general public on how the psychological consequences of war affect both those who serve and their loved ones at home.”

The month of May has been about mental health awareness. Our military service members have been through some of the most rigorous training and seen more than some of us care or even want to imagine.

Sincerely,