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