On Memorial Day, we remember those who have served our country so well. But, do you know the history behind Memorial Day? Do your children? Take some time this week to talk about the importance of the day and the importance of honoring our servicemen.
Originally called Decoration Day, May 30 was set aside as a day of remembrance for those who have died in the American Civil War on 5 May 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Following World War I, Memorial Day became a day to honor soldiers killed in all wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May.
Ideas for Memorial Day.
Participate in the National Moment of Remembrance, established by Congress, asks Americans, wherever they are at 3 p.m., local time, on Memorial Day, to pause in an act of national unity for a duration of one minute. The time 3 p.m. was chosen because it is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms on the national holiday. The Moment does not replace traditional Memorial Day events; rather, it is an act of national unity in which all Americans, alone or with family and friends, honor those who died in service to the United States. wikipedia
Participate in any Memorial Day event related to remembering our fallen soldiers.
Fly a flag at half-mast until noon. For details, check out Halfstaff.org.
Commemorating Memorial Day any day!
Read about the history of Memorial Day. There are many sites. These are a few I like.
US Memorial Day.org
History.com
USA.gov – Also has ideas for how to remember the day, including ways to support our troops.
Call a veteran you know, or a family of a veteran, and thank them for their service.
Find out how to properly fold an American flag at USFlag.org.
Read John McCrae poem “In Flanders Fields” and learn about the significance of red poppies on Memorial Day click here. Buy some red poppies (or red carnations) and place them on the graves of soldiers in a local cemetery.
Play some of these YouTube videos.
Memorial Day Song by Dave Duprey – Purchase directly from the artist here.
God Bless the USA by Lee Greenwood – Wikipedia: Background on song
Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue by Toby Keith – Wikipedia: Background on song
Teacher’s Note: The word a** is used in this song.
You might also want to listen to some of these classics.
America the Beautiful
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Halls of Montezuma
My Country ‘Tis of Thee
Stars and Stripes Forever
The Star Spangled Banner
Yankee Doodle
Lesson Plans, Crafts, and Activity Ideas
Education World > K-12 lesson plans
Lessons Plans Page > K-12 lesson plans
National Education Association > K-12 lesson plans
Character Counts > Lesson plan Students will build a common vocabulary related to memorial monuments and understand their significance in their community. They will define the different categories of memorials and begin to understand the intentions of the artists who design them. Students will also consider current international conflicts and use their findings to design a memorial.
For craft ideas, check out my Pinterest Patriotic Activities board.
Enchanted Learning > Crafts, Projects, and Worksheets
DLTK > Crafts
Bing > Coloring pages
Bing > Word searches
Bing > Puzzles
Bing > Worksheets
Bing > Activity sheets
Teaching Nook 