Memorial Day

Memorial Day! 

So what does your typical Memorial Day look like?  Is it a bbq with family and friends?  Do you go to your local parade?  Do you celebrate at the VFW?  Do you go to the beach or pool?

Whatever you choose to do on this day, take a moment to remember why we really get a 3 day weekend.  The biggest way to say "thank you" and remember those who we have lost is to display your American Flag!  

So...let's plan a party with ways to do that!

Food!  

The more foods you can make in the red/white/blue theme, the better!  Of course you want to have the appropriate summer foods: hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, chicken, corn on the cob, watermelon, fruit salad, potato salad, pasta salad, cole slaw, baked beans, chips, apple pie, ice cream, strawberry shortcakes, star shaped cookies, lemonade, sweet tea and beer!

But then there is always the "flag cake" or "jell-o layered parfait"!  They look so fun!

Decorations!

Well, we already know what our color palette is, so now we just have to figure out how to execute it.

Well, here's some inspiration...

So flags everywhere is one idea! You can fill up little buckets of sand and stick in some flags and you've got a centerpiece.  You could also make pom poms or paper lanterns to hang.  Pennant banners always have a big impact when strung outside.  Also, white and red petunias in festive planting pots would be a great centerpiece.  If you're planning a kids party, fill clear jars with different red, white or blue candies!  They will love it and it will make a huge statement.  I also love the idea of buckets full of red, white or blue bottled drinks!

Love this centerpiece with combining flags with an old American tradition of baseball.

Also, decorate your home!  Purchase some cotton bunting material that you can re-use each year and go crazy!

Music is also a great way to get people celebrating!  So make a fun CD of your favorite patriotic songs and blast it loud!

Also, support our military by attending your local parade.  Wave some American Flags and say thank you to each of the military soldiers!

Let's remember why we get this 3 day weekend.  It's to remember those who lost their lives fighting for our freedom.  At 3pm (EST), pause for 1 minute to remember those who we have lost during the National Moment of Remembrance.

Today I took the girls to our town's Memorial Day Parade. It was so sweet and personable. It felt very "American". Everyone talked to us as we sat there waiting and it was just precious to see the Veterans, school bands and local queens. It felt like my childhood! I loved it! So my kids got to meet some more "American Heroes" today and hopefully that will give them an appreciation for their elders and soldiers. Loved it!!!

Memorial Day Playgroup

Today we had our Memorial Day Playgroup. After lunch we colored a page describing Memorial day in preschool terms. We mostly kept it to discussing "a day we honor American heroes". Then we got some flags and muscial instruments and had a parade in our backyard! It was sweet and very fun...you can see in the picture how much fun they were having. There's also a picture of Bella playing her drum...she couldn't walk and hold it at the same time. Then there are the twins mezmorized by the flags. I love playgroup days! It's so nice to catch up with other moms and it's great to have your kids play and interact with other kids...it also helps when it's a beautiful day outside! Although, I just had my Jehovah Witnesses come to the door (lovely ladies who come once a month to chat). We talked for about an hour as usual then I asked if I could give their kids (who always wait in the car) a flag & candy. They don't do American flags or celebrate holidays. Very, very opposite of me! To each his own, but I find it a little sad not to be patriotic or supportive of the brave soldiers who lost their lives for our freedom. :(

Celebrating Memorial Day with your kids

Celebrating Memorial Day
Here is a photo of last year on Memorial Day of my two girls and my niece and nephew! I love red, white & blue on kids...so crisp!

Anyway, we will be celebrating it again next week and I'm just researching some ways to talk to Sophia about the day. So here’s how you may want to explain the day to your pre-schoolers:
Memorial Day began in the United States on May 30, 1868, after the Civil War had ended. Flowers were put on the graves of all the soldiers who were in the war, in order to help heal the nation. This holiday later included all men and women who had died in America's wars. It is now celebrated on the last Monday of May. We celebrate this holiday to honor all of our country’s heroes who were killed in wartime protecting our nation & home. Sometimes, parades, fireworks and picnics are part of the celebrations!

So if you are looking for ways to break up the monotony of each day, you can celebrate Memorial day with a few of these activities to do with your children:

*check with your city to see if your VFW is hosting a program or parade. Kids love parades!
1. Hang an American flag or stick flags in the ground down your driveway. Or teach your preschool about the colors of the American flag and color one on paper.

2. Help your kids make a card online to be sent overseas to our current soldiers.

3. Print off some song lyrics, such as "Star Spangled Banner" and "Proud to be an American" and sing these with your kids.
4. Visit a family member that is a veteran or if you don't know any personally, go to a local retirement or nursing home to visit a veteran. Check Bring a letter or colored picture to give to the veteran, to thank them for their duties to our country. If your kids are not shy, have them sing one of the songs you practiced.
5. National Moment of Remembrance: Participate in the National Moment of Remembrance. This is a time when we can all reflect on Memorial Day and those who gave their time for the military. This is usually observed at 3:00 p.m.
6. War Heroes. Find some information about a famous war hero from each war and create a notebook about 'War Heroes'. Your students can then read personal stories about soldiers who died, which brings home the war on a more personal level.
7. Write To A Soldier in Iraq. Many soldiers would love to receive letters or parcels from people back home. There are several organizations you can contact who will assign you a soldier to write to. On Memorial Day, it would be nice to send a care package to a soldier overseas so ask each child to bring in something small to add to the package.
8. Family Members in the War. If some students have family members who are in the war in Iraq or Afghanistan, have them talk about them. Tell the class who they are, what they like to do, how long they have been in Iraq or Afghanistan and what they do there.