Happy Memorial Day!
For many of us, Memorial Day means a day off of work, barbecue cookouts, family picnics, and community pools opening for the summer. But far more importantly, Memorial Day is a time to remember. It’s a calling to honor those courageous men and women who have served and given their lives for the causes of freedom, liberty, and peace. In between the summer festivities of the day, here are just a few things you can do to honor Memorial Day and pay respects to our fallen heroes.
Volunteer to lay flowers or plant flags at your local Veterans cemetery.
Did you know Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day? After the Civil War, it was designated as a time to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. By the 20th century, the day became known as Memorial Day and was extended to honor all Americans who have died in Military Service.
Visit a military memorial, museum, or monument.
There are many military memorials, museums, and monuments throughout the United States. Take a day trip to one near you to learn about our military history or to pay your respects.
Watch the National Memorial Day Parade (Monday, May 27, at 2:00 pm ET)
Launched in 2005 by the American Veterans Center and the World War II Veterans Committee in Washington, D.C., the National Memorial Day Parade has been televised since 2008 and is broadcast live to troops stationed around the world.
The 2019 National Memorial Day Parade will be televised LIVE on local stations nationwide. Check your local listings.
Post a tribute to a fallen hero on social media.
Do you have a friend or family member who died during Military Service? Post a picture and a written tribute to them on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram—or all of the above! Tell your followers what this person and their service meant to you and invite others to join the conversation by honoring their memory in their own words.
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