WAYS TO CELEBRATE MEMORIAL DAY

Happy Memorial Day! The last Monday in May has been set aside as a day of rememberance for brave soldiers who have died fighting for our country. Memorial Day has been around since the end of the Civil War, but it seems to be losing more of its significance every year. Please take a few moments out of your day to honor our fallen soldiers. Here are a few suggestions of activities you can do with your family today.

Moment of Remembrance

The National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed on December 2000. This resolution asks all Americans to pause for a moment of respect and remembrance at 3:00 p.m. local time.

Visit to Cemetery

Take your family to a cemetery and place flags or flowers on the graves of war heroes. If there is a member of your immediate family that fought and died in a war, today is the perfect day to visit their grave site.

Fly the US flag at half-staff

On Memorial Day it is customary to fly the US flag at half-staff until noon. If you don't have a flag at your house, today is the perfect day to get one.

Read a book about a war hero

Read a story to your children to remind them what this day is about. Here are a few suggestions:

"If You Lived At The Time of the Civil War" by Kay Moore

"A Picture Book of George Washington" by David A. Adler

"Beat the Drum - Independence Day Has Come" by Lee Hopkins

Wear Red, White and Blue

Ask every member of your family to wear a red, white, and blue outfit in honor of this special day. This will remind others in your community that it is a special day of remembrance.

Teach your children to observe Memorial Day in a special way. If you treat it like any other day off and take them to a movie or go shopping at the mall, they won't understand the significance of this day. Children learn by example. Be a good example to your children on this special day.