Celebrate Memorial Day to keep the true meaning alive and to fulfill a promise to never forget the sacrifices made in the name of freedom. Memorial Day activities help us honor our fallen.
The U.S Department of Veterans Affairs reports Veterans 65 and older numbered more than 12.4 million. If you are not a Senior or a Veteran, chances are you know someone who is. Give them the opportunity to remember friends and family members lost by spending this day with them.
National Moment of Remembrance
Sixty seconds of silence…even the simplest of tributes has a significant impact. The National Moment of Remembrance stops the clock for one minute. Everyone is quiet and still at 3:00 pm local time to honor the soldiers and their loved ones for making the ultimate sacrifice. Our nation stands united if for only one minute.
Pay Tribute at the Cemetery
On Memorial Day it is a point to honor our dead. Visit a cemetery to pay your respects. If there is a Veteran section walk through it. You could volunteer in advance to help others placing by small flags on gravesites. An activity such as this is particularly well-suited for Seniors. While being active they have an opportunity to feel connected with others.
Patriotic Gatherings
Gather friends and family to keep the American spirit alive. Have a red, white, and blue theme. Celebrate the freedom our military fights for so valiantly. Encourage elderly members of your family to tell their stories and record them. This is a wonderful way to be certain history is passed down through generations. These verbal testimonies will be treasured for years to come.
The Poppy Flower
Red poppy flowers will be seen everywhere on Memorial Day. These are worn to demonstrate we remember the sacrifices made and to show respect for all service members. A poem “In Flanders Field” was written by a Canadian war veteran who lost a friend in battle. In the poem he describes a poppy field in bloom, bright with color and still living on the war-ravaged land. The poppy was adopted later as an official symbol of remembrance.
If you’re interested in creating one yourself, this easy craft might be worth trying.
The supplies you will need are enough to make two poppy flowers.
- Six coffee filters (with one of them cut in half)
- Two pipe cleaners
- Watercolor red paint
- Paintbrushes
- Water
Paint the coffee filters with water and red paint. Using some roughness on the filter is fine. Your flower will look more realistic due to the ruffling effect it will have once it drys. Coffee filters are designed to be wet, so the filters shouldn’t rip.
Layer the two big coffee filters and one half of the divided filter, crinkling along the way. Poke a hole through the middle, insert a pipe cleaner for a stem and the project is complete. Celebrate Memorial Day with a big red poppy!
Attend a Flag Ceremony
“And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.”
You stand proudly as the flag is raised and then slowly lowered to half-mast. Join with others who are honoring Memorial Day. Come together as a community to reminisce about our country’s history. All ages should recognize these powerful moments.
Fireworks Show
After the flag has been lowered and folded and as twilight begins to settle, many cities display a firework show to honor our Veterans. Fireworks bursting in air is an incredible display of patriotism. We watch, unified in our reflections on those who have given their lives for us. The awe of the American spirit crosses generations.
Celebrating Community
Bridge to Better Living works with communities who honor the true spirit of Memorial Day. Meaningful activities are planned to celebrate this important day. BBL cares about our clients and want them to have a genuine sense of belonging. Bridge to Better Living encourages attendance to a multitude of activities on all holidays. Read more about our motto Passion with Placement here.
Call BBL at 402-802-3301 to schedule a consultation. We know how Senior Living brings people together. Click here to read more about Bridge to Better Living services.