Memorial Day is such an important day for our nation! It is a day and time to honor our fallen veterans who have served our country with the ultimate sacrifice! We too often take our freedom for granted, even now our freedom isn’t what it used to be. You hear every day in the news how it is being chipped away at every turn. We must never take it for granted because truly in an instant it can be gone!
There are so many children who don’t even know what the day means except for the parades and yearly grill outs! There is nothing wrong with enjoying this day together as a family but it is even more wonderful if you create a tradition or two around the meaning of this day and use it as an opportunity to teach your children.
Some Traditions to Create this Memorial Day:
Attend a Parade – Don’t just sit back and watch the parade but explain to your children the meaning of Memorial Day and show them how to honor the Vets that are apart of that parade by standing or applauding as they walk by! These Veterans are still with us (they are the ones who made it home), it’s a great way to show your thanks as a family for all they have done!
Put Together a Care Package or Letter (drawings) for a soldier serving overseas now – Soldiers get lonely and miss their families terribly, having your children serve in this way helps them understand the sacrifice and teaches them about serving others!
Attend a Memorial Service – The city I grew up in does a service at the end of a parade where you hear a prayer and honor the soldiers with a singing of the National Anthem, it is always very moving!
Put out Your Flags – Waving your flag in your local parade or hanging it from your porch is a great way to show your patriotism and your respect for the ones who keep you safe! It also shows a love of country.
Visit a National Memorial Site – If you live in a location that has one visit it together. There are places like the Vietnam Wall in Washington DC or The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier or any place that honors the ones that have fallen!
Visit a battlefield – We have many battlefields you can visit! There are reenactments and some fields that have been left untouched for history! You can teach about the different battles or/and wars our country has been in!
Visit with Grandparents or others that have served that can share stories with your children. My sons love to hear their grandfather tell stories about the time he was in the Marines!
Visit a Military Cemetery – Many people use this day to remember all the ones they have lost by visiting grave sites and placing flowers or just saying prayers! Point out the military graves you see! I realize not everyone believes or likes to visit the cemetery so this is just for the ones who feel comfortable with it!
Have Special time of Prayer – Pray for our soldiers that are currently serving and their families. Their wives/husbands often are taking care of their children alone for huge amounts of time and everyone involved needs prayer.
Pray for the families that have lost a loved one in war or in service, this is such a hard time and they need all the prayer they can get! Pray for our nation, if there was ever a time it needed it, is now!
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
