Memorial Day is designated as a federal holiday to honor the men and women who have died while serving in our military. If you’re like many Americans, you go to parades, fly Old Glory, go on a picnic or have a barbecue in the back yard. These are our American traditions. But this year, why not add a simple gesture that goes back to the founding of the holiday – honoring our fallen. This simple act could help provide a reminder of why we celebrate this day and why our fallen are truly worthy of remembrance.
Try one of these:
– Watch a classic war film (obviously age appropriate). Saving Private Ryan, The Tuskegee Airmen, Megan Leavey, Glory, Hacksaw Ridge and Unbroken are a few classics that remind us why these men and women are to be honored.
– Visit a local veterans cemetery — walking around to look at the names and dates, and thinking and praying for their families.
– Visit a veteran senior home. While not in every community, veteran homes were created to care for our vets that could not take care of themselves. Bring some cookies and chat for a little bit. It will be a great encouragement.
– Honor the National Moment of Remembrance. In 2000, Congress created the National Moment of Remembrance to make sure our troops are honored. At 3pm, every American is asked to pause for just one minute to honor our fallen.
– Visit a battlefield or museum. Not easy for everyone, obviously, but if you live near a battlefield, take a trip and spend an hour or the day. Or maybe there’s a local museum in your area. In Columbus, OH, as an example — where no battles were fought — there are 2 museums, Mott’s Military Museum and the newly formed National Veterans Memorial and Museum. Wonder what treasures you could find near you?
We hope Memorial Day is a time of thanks, remembrance and hope for your family this year.
God Bless You and God Bless America.