Memorial Day is coming up, and it will be a day to get out of the house and get together with family and friends. While that is always exciting, most of us take this extra day off for granted. Don’t forget why you celebrate Memorial Day.
The meaning of Memorial Day has changed for me throughout my life.
When I was young, it was just another day off of school. Being the youngest of six, it was difficult for my parents to get us in a car and go camping or on vacation somewhere, so we usually stayed home. There may have been a driveway potluck going on with the parents sitting around talking, smoking, and drinking while we kids played kick the can with the neighbors.
As I got a little older, it would signify the end of school, and I would sometimes get invited to go camping with my friends. We would flip through our yearbooks and talk about all our plans for the summer.
Fast forward to college and marriage; Memorial Day meant a long weekend to go “home” and spend time with the parents and friends still living there. My oldest son, Sam, was born on Memorial Day weekend. Many years were spent celebrating him and hosting birthday parties.
After my mom, Marvel died, I would use it to honor her at the cemetery. I remember those first few years sitting through a church service on the cemetery grounds. I barely made it through. It was so emotional, and I literally felt her presence.
Related Post: 10 Lessons My Mom Taught Me
Now we have a cabin, and it has become a weekend that we can all get together. With my children living all over the country, this weekend is one of my favorites when I usually get to be with all of them.
Picnics, parades, boat rides, planting gardens, and having bonfires with family and friends are all activities associated with celebrating Memorial Day.
But let’s not forget, the reason we have the last Monday in May off is to honor those who have died in defense of their country.
Here’s how it was outlined in General Orders No. 11, Washington, D.C., May 5, 1868:
The 30th day of May 1868 is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land. In this observance, no form of ceremony is prescribed, but posts and comrades will in their own way arrange such fitting services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit.
While it is important for all of us to enjoy the freedom that so many fallen soldiers have given us, it is also important to not forget why you have the opportunity to celebrate Memorial Day in the first place.
Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day with the fallen soldiers in Mind
Hang a flag in their honor.
Bring flowers to the cemetery and lay a few on soldiers’ graves.
Watch the National Memorial Day concert on PBS.
Read a historical fiction book about one of the wars.
Read this poem:
Remember Them
We will remember them,
The ones who stood tall,
Who fought for their country,
The ones who were willing to fall.
We will remember them,
The ones whose lives had shined,
Who were mighty and bold,
May the world be defined.
Look at all our nations,
Oh, how far we’ve come,
As every person will stay in our hearts,
We shall stand one by one
Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/remember-them
Find some stories about the people who died fighting for our country in your area.
Decorate your picnics or celebrations in red, white, and blue.
Visit a war memorial online.
If you know someone who has died in battle, reach out to their family.
Listen to this song based on Staff Sergeant Jared Monti, who died in Afghanistan.
“I Drive Your Truck” by Lee Brice
Teach your kids the reason for Memorial Day and make some patriotic crafts.
Write letters to current military personnel.
Remember the story of the Poppy:
In Flanders Fields
By Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae
In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands, we throw
The torch, be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
I hope you can get outdoors and do something to celebrate Memorial Day this weekend.
I’ll be at the cabin with my family, celebrating my son’s birthday and remembering my mom.
I’m fortunate that I do not personally know anyone who has died while in service, but I know many veterans. I will make sure to remember all of them on this day dedicated to their honor.
“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it. It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.” –Unknown