3 Ways To Honor Memorial Day With Your Kids
Memorial Day Weekend is a big, flashy holiday filled with barbecues, fireworks, campouts, and other fun activities. Celebrating Memorial Day with these types of fun activities is all well and good, but it’s important to set aside a little bit of time to recognize the holiday’s origins as well - especially if you have young children. After all, Memorial Day wasn’t always about food, fireworks, and fun.
History Of Memorial Day
Memorial Day was originally observed in the years following the Civil War, as an opportunity to recognize and honor the men and women who lost their lives in the battle. There is mixed information regarding which city can claim the initial introduction of this great holiday, but in 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo, New York as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Eventually, Memorial Day was included in the National Holiday Act of 1979 that designated several federal holidays. Memorial Day has since been observed on the last Monday in May every year.
Remembering Those Who Have Fallen
This Memorial Day, I encourage you to set aside a little bit of time to honor the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in support of the greater good of our country. Here are a few ideas for how you and your children can honor our soldiers on Memorial Day.
1. Visit A Military Cemetery
Memorial Day is the perfect time to visit a military cemetery. If you have children, this can double as an educational opportunity for them. You can always bring flowers to lay by the gravestones, too – even if you didn’t personally know the individual buried there. Red poppies were the flowers traditionally used in the very first Memorial Day observances, so you can bring them if you’re going all-out with your child’s educational historical experience.
2. Write A Thank-You Note
Even if you do not have any active or retired military personnel in your immediate family, chances are good that you know someone in your extended family or circle of friends who is currently serving or who has served in the past. Take this weekend as an opportunity to write a note to the individuals you know who have served thanking them for their service and dedication. They will greatly appreciate your efforts.
3. Volunteer For Veterans
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs relies heavily on the time, energy, and support of their volunteers. On a national level, over 140,000 volunteers gave more than 11 million hours in service to America’s Veterans (source: Volunteer.VA.gov). On a local level, there are countless opportunities for you to get involved and support your local veterans. For more information, contact the Camdenton VFW Post 5923 or the Osage Beach VFW Post 6514.
Happy Memorial Day!
Celebrating Memorial Day with fun, food, and fireworks is perfectly okay - in fact, I strongly encourage you to do so! The Lake of the Ozarks is home to countless fantastic activities during Memorial Day Weekend. I simply encourage you to also take a little bit of time to honor the true meaning behind the holiday with your children. In addition to encouraging them to be more appreciative and supportive our troops as they become adults in their own right, doing these types of activities with your little ones know will help them grow into well-rounded, compassionate individuals.
Visiting The Lake This Weekend?
Why not take a few minutes to check out some of the homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks while you're in town this weekend? As your trusted real estate agent in Lake Ozark MO, I would be happy to show you around!
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History Of Memorial Day
Memorial Day was originally observed in the years following the Civil War, as an opportunity to recognize and honor the men and women who lost their lives in the battle. There is mixed information regarding which city can claim the initial introduction of this great holiday, but in 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson declared Waterloo, New York as the official birthplace of Memorial Day. Eventually, Memorial Day was included in the National Holiday Act of 1979 that designated several federal holidays. Memorial Day has since been observed on the last Monday in May every year.
Remembering Those Who Have Fallen
This Memorial Day, I encourage you to set aside a little bit of time to honor the brave men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice in support of the greater good of our country. Here are a few ideas for how you and your children can honor our soldiers on Memorial Day.
1. Visit A Military Cemetery
Memorial Day is the perfect time to visit a military cemetery. If you have children, this can double as an educational opportunity for them. You can always bring flowers to lay by the gravestones, too – even if you didn’t personally know the individual buried there. Red poppies were the flowers traditionally used in the very first Memorial Day observances, so you can bring them if you’re going all-out with your child’s educational historical experience.
Even if you do not have any active or retired military personnel in your immediate family, chances are good that you know someone in your extended family or circle of friends who is currently serving or who has served in the past. Take this weekend as an opportunity to write a note to the individuals you know who have served thanking them for their service and dedication. They will greatly appreciate your efforts.
3. Volunteer For Veterans
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs relies heavily on the time, energy, and support of their volunteers. On a national level, over 140,000 volunteers gave more than 11 million hours in service to America’s Veterans (source: Volunteer.VA.gov). On a local level, there are countless opportunities for you to get involved and support your local veterans. For more information, contact the Camdenton VFW Post 5923 or the Osage Beach VFW Post 6514.
Happy Memorial Day!
Celebrating Memorial Day with fun, food, and fireworks is perfectly okay - in fact, I strongly encourage you to do so! The Lake of the Ozarks is home to countless fantastic activities during Memorial Day Weekend. I simply encourage you to also take a little bit of time to honor the true meaning behind the holiday with your children. In addition to encouraging them to be more appreciative and supportive our troops as they become adults in their own right, doing these types of activities with your little ones know will help them grow into well-rounded, compassionate individuals.
Visiting The Lake This Weekend?
Why not take a few minutes to check out some of the homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks while you're in town this weekend? As your trusted real estate agent in Lake Ozark MO, I would be happy to show you around!
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