For many Americans, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, and the outdoor activities and fun the season brings. The truth is, the holiday wasn’t originally about summer at all. Instead, it was established as a day to honor the men and women of our armed forces who gave the ultimate sacrifice in service of our great country.

A backyard barbeque, a day at the beach, or a weekend of camping are fun ways to start off the summer season. While you’re enjoying time with family, though, it’s important to also reflect on the meaning of the day, and celebrate it respectfully with friends and family. 

If you’re eager to do just that, and looking for family-friendly ideas that are joyful as well as respectful, read on. The info below from NSA Storage will give you plenty of ideas as well as some valuable insights into the reasons why we celebrate Memorial Day!

Why Do We Celebrate Memorial Day?

The Civil War in America was one of our countries’ darkest times and saw the loss of over 620,000 lives. Memorial Day was created as a way to unite the country in our shared grief and respect the lives of soldiers lost on both sides. Soon after the war ended, communities across the United States began holding tributes to honor their fallen brothers and sisters. 

May 30th was the original date chosen because it didn’t fall on the anniversary of any specific Civil War battle. That allowed the entire country to participate in the day without favoritism towards either side. Plus, the end of May is the perfect time to gather flowers, which made it easier for people to decorate graves of their loved ones.

Memorial Day was actually called “Decoration Day” originally. That was because people had a tradition of decorating the graves of soldiers with wreaths, flags, and flowers. The name “Memorial Day”, while used occasionally before then, became more widely used after World War I. That was when it was expanded to honor American military personnel from all wars, not just the Civil War.

Memorial Day was officially moved to the last Monday in May to create a 3-day weekend for federal employees. That was in 1968 when Congress passed the uniform Monday Holiday Act. The act took effect in 1971, the same year Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday.

Helpful Ways to Honor Our Veterans

Memorial Day was created to honor those military personnel who had fallen in battle. A great way to show respect for their sacrifice is to give support and appreciation to living veterans. Below are several helpful ways you can honor the veterans living in your community.

Volunteer– In most towns there are plenty of events organized to help veterans. Cleaning up a veteran’s home, for example, or helping to keep a cemetery plot looking beautiful. Volunteering at a soup kitchen or a shelter will also, inevitably, mean that you help some veterans.

Donate to Military Charities– There are several excellent charities that support the families of soldiers who have fallen. Donating to these charities will definitely help, including:

• TAPS (Tragedy assistance program for survivors)
• Wounded Warrior Project
• Fisher House Foundation

Share Stories– If you’ve got relatives who served and lost their lives, share their stories with friends and family. Take a look at their old photos together, for example, and any medals they might have received. Doing this can help the younger members of your family to appreciate the sacrifices made by so many.

Respectful Memorial Day Celebration Tips

Trust us, nobody is saying that Memorial Day weekend can’t be full of fun, frolic, and fantastic food. The only thing to keep in mind is that the weekend has a much deeper meaning. Because of that, respect is definitely recommended. Below are several ways you can celebrate and be respectful at the same time:

Put Up a Memorial Wall– No, this doesn’t have to be a huge wall. Something small that you can use to hang photos, flags, metals and so forth, will do just fine. You can even use your fence, or put everything on a special table reserved for your revered service members.

Host a Patriotic Barbecue– These days it’s easy to find patriotic decorations in red, white, and blue. You can also make traditional picnic foods and decorate them with those colors. Playing patriotic songs throughout the afternoon is also a great idea and will keep your fallen service members top-of-mind.

Easy Ways to Teach Kids Why We Celebrate Memorial Day

Most children look at Memorial Day as a long weekend that will be full of fun and food. It can be easy and fun to teach your kids the real reason why we celebrate. Here are a few easy, simple methods:

• Let your kids help you with meaningful Memorial Day activities. Writing letters, placing flags, decorating gravesites, etc.
• Encourage your kids to ask questions about why we celebrate Memorial Day and be as open as possible with your answers.
• For younger children, picture books that explain the holiday can be very helpful.
• The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) has a national Memorial Day concert. You can watch as a family and let the kids know what the day means.

Family-Friendly Memorial Day Activities to Enjoy

Fun activities that also honor the reason behind the Memorial Day holiday are a great idea. Below are several you can enjoy with everyone in your family:

Fly the American Flag in Your Yard– According to tradition, the flag should be flown at half staff until 12 o’clock noon. After that, raise it to full-staff for the rest of the day. 

Watch a Patriotic Movie Together– There are many films that honor the experiences of our military service members. Just keep in mind that some may not be appropriate for younger kids. Screen your options in advance to make sure that they’re okay for family viewing.

Go to a Memorial Day Ceremony in Your Neighborhood– Most communities in America host Memorial Day events at parks and cemeteries. Going as a family can help teach your kids the true meaning of the day. If you like, you can bring some flowers or small flags to place on the graves of the veterans.

Visit the grave of a family member– If you have a family member who was a veteran or lost their life in active duty, visiting their resting place on Memorial Day can be a good way to honor them. Although it can be sad or somber, it’s important to show kids that fallen family members and their sacrifice are not forgotten. Children can contribute by bringing flowers, flags, or other decorations to place at the gravesite. If the marker is worse for wear, you can also bring supplies to clean it so that you further preserve your loved one’s memory.

Celebrate with Fun and Respect

Yes, Memorial Day weekend can, and should, be a lot of fun. After all, it is the start of the summer season. However, Memorial Day is also a time to remember our fallen service members and to also honor those still with us with gratitude and respect. The good news is that you can enjoy your weekend while still respecting our military heroes. By attending ceremonies, hosting thoughtful events, visiting with veterans, and volunteering, you and your family can celebrate Memorial Day with both fun and respect.