Make this Memorial Day Memorable!
0Memorial Day is often thought of as a three-day-weekend filled with barbecues, lake and water sports, fire pits, picnics and family reunions. However, the heart of Memorial Day, formerly known as Decoration Day, originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the war. Now, Memorial Day has been extended to honor all Americans who died while in military service.
Here are a few ideas on how to make this Memorial Day Weekend especially memorable, while also honoring those who served.
- Thank a veteran – Call or write a thank you letter to all the veterans you know. Let them know you appreciate the time they served to protect our rights and freedoms
- Fly an American Flag outside your home!
- Pray for, send a gift, and thank the families who have lost loved ones in the service
- Attend a memorial service – check with your local chamber of commerce to see when and where local veterans have a memorial service planned. They often enjoy and appreciate having guests.
- Recognize the National Moment of Remembrance. Every year, at 3 p.m., every American is asked to pause in silence for just one minute to honor the fallen
- Watch and/or listen to the National Memorial Day Concert. This concert is broadcasted on PBS and NPR and is performed on the west lawn of the United States Captiol.
- Attend or participate in a Memorial Day parade.
- Make fun, patriotic foods and desserts with your children, while teaching them the meaning behind Memorial Day. **(See and easy and colorful recipe idea below)
- Send a care package to someone currently in the service – there are many programs care packages can be sent through such as: ourmilitary.mil/care-packages, operationgratitude.com, and adoptaussoldier.org
- Make a donation. Many charities exist to help veterans and their families. Some recommended ones are: Fisher Home Foundation, Thanks USA and Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust
**Patriotic Pudding Pops
White Chocolate instant pudding mix (can use vanilla or cheesecake flavors too)
2 cups milk
Red & Blue food color
Kids size plastic drink cups
Popsicle Sticks
Make your pudding according to the package directions (Which is just mixing it with the milk)
Separate your pudding into three bowls, and add red food color to one bowl and blue to the other (keep one bowl white, no color)
Pour some of your red pudding into your cups, then pour the white, and finish with the blue. Then add your Popsicle stick.
Put your cups in the freezer till pudding is frozen (we left ours in overnight).
When ready to remove from cups place the cups in some warm water for a few seconds and they should pop right out.
