Happy Memorial Day, the day each year for remembering and honoring fallen members of the U.S. Armed Forces. And, for most us, the weekend that signals the official kick-off of Summer!
Admittedly, this Memorial Day might not see us take part in some of our traditional events and celebrations, but there’s still plenty of ways to honor our military heroes and enjoy ourselves. Who knows, we might even discover a few new traditions that become a mainstay of Memorial Days to come.
Need some ideas to get you started? Check out these options:
- Decorate in Red, White and Blue!
Nothing says Memorial Day more than getting patriotic with your home décor. From flying Old Glory to finding interesting ways to work our country’s color scheme into your meals, activities and decorations, it’s a great time to go patriotic! Jump start your planning with a quick look at this Pinterest collection.
- Donate Flowers.
Every year the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation coordinates private, public, and corporate sponsors, as well as with local organizers and volunteers, to place a flower on the grave site of interred veterans. Though the current situation won’t allow large gatherings as in the past, you can still recognize veterans by donating flowers to their grave through this organization.
- Watch the National Memorial Day Concert.
While the yearly National Memorial Day Concert won’t happen on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol this year, the event will still air at 8 p.m. Sunday, May 24 on PBS. This special presentation of the illustrious concert will include new performances and tributes filmed in different locations around the nation and renowned stories from past concerts.
- Try Your Hand at Chalk Art.
Chalk art has become a favorite activity for families over the past few months, and what better time to test your creative talents than to mark this holiday. Illustrate a patriotic mural or scribble a thank you message to veterans in your driveway or a nearby walkway, if it’s allowed. Get inspired by some of these amazing examples.
- Get Outdoors.
Weather permitting, break out the bike, fishing rod, badminton set or hiking boots and spend the day enjoying some fresh air and outside fun. Keep it safe, but a little outdoor time will do you a world of good.
- Fire Up the Grill.
Whether it's hot dogs, burgers, smoked brisket, salmon, maybe even portobello mushrooms, Memorial Day weekend is your weekend to step up your grill game! Need ideas? Check out these 65 Memorial Day suggestions.
- Watch a Patriotic Movie.
As you settle in for the evening, or if weather forces you inside, invest a couple of hours catching a patriotic movie. From stand-up-and-cheer classics to bring-a-tear-to-your-eye heart wrenchers, there are soooo many terrific choices out there. Here’s a great list to get you started.
A special holiday weekend is more about your mind-set than where you are or what you do. Make this Memorial Day one to remember. Enjoy and stay well!