For most kids, Memorial Day is a day off from school. It’s a day to hang out with family. It may be a day to have a big BBQ with the neighbors. There are many great sales advertised for the day. But what is it really? How do we teach our children the true meaning of Memorial Day? How do we teach them to remember?

Explore the History of Memorial Day

As the Civil War was coming to an end in 1866, the soldiers (many of whom were badly wounded) were returning home with stories to tell about what they had experienced. Henry Welles, a Waterloo, NY drugstore owner, decided local businesses should close for a day to honor the soldiers who had died and to place flowers and crosses on their graves. Similarly, Retired Major General Jonathan Logan suggested taking a day to honor the survivors of the war. In 1868, the two celebrations were merged. Towns began to hold parades and display American flags to honor victims and survivors of the Civil War.

In 1882, the observances were officially named Memorial Day and began to include veterans of other wars as well. In 1971, then President Richard Nixon declared Memorial Day a federal holiday to be observed on the last Monday of May.

Make Memorial Day Personal for Your Family

Teach your children about family members who served or are serving in the military. Display their pictures. Pull out maps to learn about where they served. Make it a day of personal remembrance and gratitude. It doesn’t have to be limited to family members in the armed forces. It can be a day for remembering other family members who have passed on in any way. Talk about the happy times you had with those deceased family members, being careful not to get too focused on the sad things if there are young children involved.

Create Family Traditions for Memorial Day

• Go to a Memorial Day parade.
• Make cookies to deliver to a local veteran’s home.
• Sing patriotic songs for a local nursing home.
• Watch a movie together than celebrates our nation’s freedom.
• Do some patriotic crafts together.
• Take small flags to put on soldier’s graves in a local cemetery (they are often marked).
• Write letters to soldiers through Operation Dear Abby.

Help our children to grow up with a sense of patriotism and gratitude for the sacrifices that have been made for us. Share a day to remember the ones who have gone on before us and to learn from their lives. Make it a memorable day for your family.

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