Memorial Day Activities

Memorial Day is a day of picnics, family get-togethers and parades, but let's not forget the real reason for the holiday. Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

You can do this with your family by doing one or more of these activities:

-Visit cemeteries and help place flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes. My son's class is doing this in our town.

-Visit your local memorials, and read the inscriptions aloud.

-On Monday fly the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon. You can also fly the POW/MIA Flag if you have one.

-Stop to participate in the "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day,and say a prayer for those lost if appropriate for your family.

I also have another activity/discussion that you can have this weekend with your children or grandchildren. Discuss the concept of courage. What is it? Who can be courageous? Is it just the people we read about that do grand lifesaving acts? Or is it the soldier who does their duty to their country despite doubts and fears? Is it that we work through fears to keep on going even in difficult times? Each member of the family can name of person they think of as courageous and why.

These quotes should give you some ideas:

Courage is simply the willingness to be afraid and act anyway. ~Robert Anthony

Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death. ~General Omar Bradley

One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest. ~Maya Angelou

I feel Memorial Day is a day to set aside our political differences. It's a day to remember the men and women throughout history that have had the courage to face circumstances most of us cannot imagine.

On OFL we the words to "In Flanders Fields" for more discussion.

~Brenda