Memorial Day, a U.S. federal holiday observed every year on the last Monday of May, is so much more than the unofficial start of summer. It was established to remember those who died while serving our country's armed forces. It began as Decoration Day after the Civil War when the nation decorated the graves of those who died in the war with flowers. That tradition was eventually extended to honor all Americans who died while in military service, and it continues today.
There are many simple ways to honor Memorial Day with your children. Here are 7 ideas:
1. Attend a Memorial Day event
Many parades, ceremonies, and other observances are held throughout the nation to mark this special day. Here are some local parades and other Memorial Day Events with kid-friendly activities:
🦅 OMRO - Memorial Day Procession and Observance Ceremony
🦅 APPLETON - Memorial Day Parade and Moment of Remembrance
🦅 BERLIN - Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony
🦅 DE PERE - De Pere Kiwanis Memorial Day Parade
🦅 IOLA - Iola Memorial Day Parade
🦅 ALL AREAS - Taps Across America at Fleet Farm
If you prefer an at-home event on Sunday:
🦅 AT HOME - National Memorial Day Concert
2. Organize a neighborhood parade
Get the kids to decorate their bikes and trikes or use red, white, and blue decorations to adorn wagons and strollers to parade around your neighborhood with friends.
3. Observe the National Moment of Remembrance
In May 2000, Congress proclaimed that on Memorial Day at 3 p.m., Americans should observe one minute of silence to reflect and remember those who died in military service to the U.S. The National Moment of Remembrance became Public Law in December of that year.
This year all Fleet Farm stores will observe this moment and a bugler will sound Taps. 🦅 ALL AREAS - Taps Across America at Fleet Farm
4. Fly the American flag
On Memorial Day, the flag should first be raised to the top of the staff, then slowly lowered to half-staff, until noon, when it should be raised to the top of the staff for the rest of the day.
 Suzanne Walker | Pexels via Canva |
5. Visit a historical site or cemetery
Tour a historic battlefield or a soldiers' memorial for a personal look at the sacrifices made by our servicemen. Decorate the graves of soldiers with flags or flowers.
6. Talk to a veteran
Take the kids to hear the story of a serviceman or servicewoman and encourage them to ask questions to better understand the sacrifices military members make. As a sign of thanks, bring cookies, flowers, or a handmade note.
7. Make a patriotic craft or recipe
Make a patriotic craft of recipe from our archive.
- Beaded American Flag Pin
- Patriotic Parfaits
- Make Poppies for Memorial Day
- Observe Memorial Day: Patriotic Picnic Placemats
- Easy Star Biscuit Bites
- Star Spangled Watermelon
- Patriotic Fruit Pops
Honoring Memorial Day can be as simple as taking some time out of the day to remember the true meaning of this important day and showing respect to those who have given their lives in service to the country. You can also teach your children about our country's rich history, the importance of freedom, and the sacrifices that have been made to make the USA what it is today.
Did you know that ...
- The Grand Army of the Republic began decorating the graves of fallen service members with flowers in May 1868, which was then known as "Decoration Day".
- In 1971 Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday, to be observed on the last Monday in May, moving it from the static date of May 30, in order to create a 3-day weekend.
- On the Thursday before Memorial Day, small American flags are placed at each of the 400,000+ gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery and other cemeteries nation-wide.
- To encourage more people to observe Memorial Day, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act in 2000, which asks people to stop what they are doing at 3:00pm local time and observe a minute of silence to honor those who lost their lives defending the country.
- On Memorial Day, the flag should first be raised to the top of the staff, then slowly lowered to half-staff, until noon when it should be raised to the top of the staff for the rest of the day.
- Red poppies are considered the Memorial Day flower. There is a poem called "In Flanders Fields" that refers to the fields of poppies growing among soldiers' graves during the First World War.
"We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them." ~Francis A. Walker
