Memorial Day | Remember and Honor
Memorial Day: What does it mean to you? A day to dust off the BBQ and enjoy a cold one? Time off work? A day spent with family and friends? Excuse to get out of town or take advantage of the holiday sales?
Above all, Memorial Day is a day of remembrance. A day to honor the memory of our fallen military heroes. A time set aside each year to commend the sacrifices patriots made to ensure our nation’s safety.
So, how do we honor them? There are many ways to get involved and show our support wherever we choose to spend the day.
8 Ways to Commemorate Memorial Day
1.Thank a Veteran
Reach out or visit someone who fought for our country. Thank them for their sacrifice. Remember the friends they lost and remind them what they fought for. Show them that what they did matters and has not gone unnoticed.
2.Pause for the National Moment of Remembrance
Observe a moment of silence at 3 PM your local time.
3.Fly your American flag
Flags should hang at half-staff until noon. After that, they should fly at full-staff for the rest of the day.
5.Wear a red poppy or place them in your home.
The tradition originated from the World War I poem “Flander’s Fields” by Colonel John McCrae (a surgeon with Canada’s First Brigade Artillery). Displaying or wear a flower is viewed as a way to commemorate our soldiers’ sacrifice.
“In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly.
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days ago,
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields. “
– Colonel John McCrae
6.Donate to a charity that supports military families
Pick a charity that helps support military families that have lost their loved ones. Let them know they are not alone.
7. Reach out to someone that has lost a soldier
Call, text, or spend time with someone who has lost a veteran. Honor them by taking the day to remember them and share stories.
8. Attend a Memorial Day Parade
Many communities observe Memorial Day with parades, ceremonies, and even memorial services. Look up what is happening in a town near you. Enjoy the sites and sounds of your city while honoring our fallen heroes.
So, however you choose to spend the holiday, take a moment to remember who it’s about. Enjoy the day for those who can’t. Honor their memory and what they fought for. Embrace life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
For all our fallen soldiers, we thank you for your sacrifice. To all those who lost someone, we understand what you gave up and we don’t take it lightly. To those who fought for us and made it home, we are here for. Happy Memorial Day!
Lindsey Harding, APT Director of Marketing and Business Development