Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.
– Franklin D. Roosevelt
Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of May each year. It is celebrated by many as the unofficial start to the summer season. Barbecues, parties, and vacations abound. There is however, a much deeper reason that Memorial Day exists. This day honors the fallen servicemembers. The ones who have fought and died for our country since its conception, making the ultimate sacrifice for the United States. Throughout the many wars and campaigns our nation has endured; we have had the privilege of being defended by the selfless and heroic members of our armed forces. Memorial Day isn’t about politics. It’s about our flag and those who bravely gave their lives to defend it so that we may live in peace. So that our way of life may be preserved, and our freedoms maintained, even if it meant they wouldn’t make it home. It’s also important that it not be confused with Veteran’s Day which is celebrated on November 11th when we honor and show appreciation for those currently serving or who have served in the United States Military.
How can we convey something so important to our children? How can we help them understand the weight of the sacrifice that’s been made on their behalf? I believe that like most things, it’s about balance. Acknowledging that this is a somber day of remembrance is important and so is teaching them to be grateful for the way of life we hold dear. That being said, showing gratitude can absolutely look like a celebration! There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the barbecues and trips on this weekend in May, as long as we appreciate the reasons we are blessed with these opportunities in the first place. We owe it to those who never came back, never got to enjoy another barbecue, never got to see another summer. We need to let ourselves feel it and not be afraid to talk to our kids about the meaning of this holiday. Shielding them from the reality of war and what it costs isn’t doing them a service. In fact, having these discussions as a family can instill a deep sense of patriotism, unity, and pride. Age appropriately, of course!
There are many ways to pay our respects to those who have fallen this Memorial Day. A few of them include:
- Visiting a nearby military memorial and placing American flags on the graves of the fallen.
- Decorating your house or yard with our flag.
- Planting Poppy flowers which are a symbol of remembrance for the servicemembers who died.
- If you have younger kids, doing a Poppy flower craft and discussing the significance of it would also be a great way to teach them about Memorial Day!
Reading age-appropriate books and watching documentaries or movies can be a really good way for the whole family to learn more about Memorial Day together! It can also start deeper conversations about the sacrifices that were made and what that might look like for families and loved ones of those who died. I highly recommend these books if you’re looking for a good starting point!
Twenty-One Steps by Jeff Gottesfeld
“Here rests in honored glory an American Soldier known but to God.” These are the words inscribed on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. This powerful story sheds light on the Unknowns(those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice but couldn’t be identified) and the guards who have kept watch over them every moment of every day since July 2nd, 1937. I couldn’t speak more highly about this book and its significance. I would say this is geared toward children 7 and up.
This heartfelt book follows a father and son as they visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It has a somber, quiet tone, but its message is meaningful and invaluable. This memorial wall, found in Washington D.C., holds the names of over 58,000 servicemembers who gave their lives during the Vietnam War as well as those missing in action.
If you are wondering about the significance of the poppy flower this Memorial Day, it originated as a powerful symbol of remembrance during World War I after a Canadian surgeon named Dr. John McCrae wrote his very famous poem, “In Flanders Fields”. It was May, 1915 and he had spent the last seventeen days treating injured men on the Western Front in Belgium. As he took a rest, he noticed an abundance of red poppies growing in between the graves, ditches, and fields. Poppy seeds can lie dormant for years, but as the battlefields of Flanders were churned up by artillery it provided an environment in which the poppies would thrive. He composed this poem in memory of a young friend he had lost.
In Flanders Fields
By: John McCrae
In Flanders Fields.
As you and your family celebrate Memorial Day this year, remember what lies at the heart of it. Appreciate time with friends and family, celebrate summer being near, but never forget the ones who gave their lives so that we may enjoy ours. Remember the young men who didn’t come back to their mothers, the husbands that would never see their wives again, and the fathers who couldn’t hold their little ones close. As well as the brave women that gave everything to serve their country. The empty seats at the table represent the heavy, painful burden that the families of the fallen have had to bear. Their loved ones didn’t make it back, so in their honor, lets do all that we can to appreciate and cherish every moment that we have with ours.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13
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