8 Ways to Honor Veterans on Memorial Day

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Memorial Day is dedicated to those who have died while serving in the United States military. Each year, the last Monday in May becomes a sacred time as we remember our fallen warriors by speaking about them, holding memorial ceremonies, and lending a helping hand to our living veterans.

The idea of honoring deceased warriors has a deep history, but the American practice began just after the end of the Civil War. The enormous number of casualties on both sides of this terrible war took burial and memorialization to new heights of cultural significance, and the formal decoration of graves began to take place.

In 1868, General John A. Logan issued General Order Number 11, which designated May 30^th as Memorial Day, established “for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades of died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.” This date was chosen because it was not the anniversary of any battle, and because May 30^th is the perfect time to find flowers in bloom.

Today, we celebrate this reverent holiday in a variety of ways. If you’re not sure exactly what you can do, take a look at these 8 ways to honor veterans on Memorial Day and make sure that you pay your respect to those who died for your way of life.

Teach Your Children About Memorial Day

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Nothing honors our fallen warriors like passing on their legacy to the next generations.

Now that you know a little about the history of Memorial Day, and what it’s all about, teach your children the meaning of this sacred holiday. So many people misunderstand Memorial Day, or fail to realize its full significance—show your children the value in remembering the people who lost their lives in service of the greater good.

Memorial Day isn’t a shopping opportunity. It isn’t a clone of Veteran’s Day. And it isn’t just another day off. It’s a time to reverently consider the idea of sacrifice, to preserve the memories of those who died, and to give thanks that they did so. This is a day that unites us all, no matter our faith, political leaning, or culture.

Praying on Memorial Day can be a family exercise as well. Doing so may help your children understand how the sacrifices of our veterans mirror that of Jesus Christ. It may help foster a deep respect for those who willingly volunteer to defend our freedoms. Praying helps prepare the mind and heart to celebrate Memorial Day in a reverent way.

Teach your child the legacy of Memorial Day, and they’ll pass it on to their own children. In that way, our fallen veterans will never be forgotten.

Donate to Veteran Charities

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One of the great ways to remember fallen service members is to help out our living veterans.

Veterans, especially those between the ages of 18 and 30, face homelessness at a twice the rate of their civilian counterparts. This is due to a number of factors, including mental illness, a lack of social support, physical disabilities, and difficulty in transitions back to the civilian world. Whatever the cause, there are tens of thousands of suffering veterans who desperately need help.

This is where your donations can make the difference between life and death for these men and women. Charities can stretch your dollar much further than you can, so they’re the perfect way to give.

A few of the top charities that support veterans are Homes for Our Troops, the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Trust Fund, Thanks USA, and the Fisher House Foundation. These charities provide homes, scholarship opportunities, and rehabilitation programs—essential services that veterans need.

Remember those who have come before by aiding those veterans who are still with us.

Fly the Flag

Traditionally, the American flag is flown at half-staff on Memorial Day. Here’s how to do this correctly.

If you have a flagpole, you’ll briskly hoist your flag to the peak of the pole first thing in the morning, letting it linger for a moment before lowering it to the midway point on the staff.

On Memorial Day, the flag is flown in this position, called half-staff, only until noon. At midday, you’ll raise the flag back to the top of the pole.

At the end of the day, you should lower the flag slowly and ceremoniously before removing it from the pole. At no point should your flag be allowed to touch the ground.

The American flag is flown at half-staff as a sign of respect upon the death of important figures in the government of the United States, foreign leaders, and important civilians who have contributed to the good of the country. It reminds everyone in view that someone important has passed away, and that they deserve a moment of our time.

Volunteer

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Just as charitable giving is a great way to honor deceased service members, so is volunteering your time.

One great place to volunteer is at your local veteran cemetery—there are always opportunities to help clean, cut grass, and greet visitors these sacred places. If you’re a bugler, you can even volunteer to perform “Taps” at veterans’ funerals. But while this is a great place to give your time on Memorial Day, there are many ways to that you can give all year round.

Your best option is to contact the Department of Veteran Affairs—if you contact your local VA medical center, you’ll find ample opportunities to give your time to sick and injured veterans.

Otherwise, you can volunteer with Volunteers of America, building homes for female veterans who are having a difficult time transitioning back to civilian life. Or you can use your time to help out United We Serve, which connects volunteers with opportunities to give veterans their thanks.

There are many opportunities to give your time to veterans in need this Memorial Day. Spend a few hours helping them out, and you’ll honor the spirit of the holiday.

Remember Your Family's Veterans

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If you go back far enough, odds are that you have at least one or two family members who served in the armed forces. Whether they died in combat or outside of it, remembering them and their contributions is a great way to celebrate Memorial Day properly.

You can do this best by telling stories. Was your family’s veteran your mother or father? A grandparent that you knew? A great-grandparent that you were told stories of?

It’s time to pass on this knowledge, and the traditional Memorial Day barbeque is the perfect time to do this while having a little fun.

While you have friends and family gathered around, tell the stories of your warrior ancestors. Break out pictures. Bring out news clippings or internet articles that tell of the battles your veterans took part in, or the experiences they underwent.

Remember these men and women in a spirit of reverence, merriment, and joy—this is just what they would have wanted, and is a perfect way to spend your next Memorial Day.

Visit a Military Memorial or Museum

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Even if you don’t have any veterans in your family to remember and speak of, you can always learn of the lives of other past service members through memorials and museums.

The national memorials of the United States are many, and are often beautiful places of peace. It’s likely at least one is nearby—they’re scattered all over the country, stretching from the Washington Monument in Washington D.C. to the Port Chicago Naval Magazine in California.

Veteran memorial museums and general military museums are, likewise, to be found in many states—a quick search through a travel guide or internet search engine will tell you exactly what is nearby. These museums contain everything from the artifacts of war to beautiful works of art created by veterans.

These places collect memories, and remembering is what Memorial Day is all about. Honor our fallen veterans by visiting these locations and learning about their lives and service.

Send a Care Package to Deployed Service Members

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Care packages are often an unexpected treat to service members who are deployed to dangerous and remote locations. Sometimes, in the loneliness of the front lines, a simple gesture of care can completely change a service member’s week.

There are numerous services which can help you send care packages to deployed troops. One of the most well-known is Operation Shoebox, which collects donated items to ship. Military members can put in requests, and Operation Shoebox does its best to get these things shipped out.

You can also donate items to Support Our Troops, an organization which offers the same services.

Alternatively, if you personally know a veteran, you can pack and ship your own care package to him or her.

Some of the best items to includes are: toothbrushes, toothpaste, magazines, board games, instant coffee, sunscreen, tissues, baby wipes, body wash, candy, beef jerky, Pop-Tarts, and plastic spoons.

Remembering our living veterans is a great way to honor those passed. Send a care package today!

Wear Your Patriotic Spirit

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Finally, another great way to celebrate Memorial Day—and to remind others of its true purpose—is to incorporate the colors of the flag into your wardrobe, and don a Memorial Day pin.

It’s generally considered a faux pas to wear clothing with the American flag printed directly on it—the flag is meant to be flown, not worn. But finding clothing that includes the essential colors and patterns is a great way to mark the occasion.

You can also don a pin or two—here, you can certainly incorporate an American flag pin, but place it on your left lapel, closest to your heart.

One of the most recognizable Memorial Day accoutrements is the poppy pin, which has been in use since 1921 to commemorate military members who have died in war, inspired by the poem, “In Flanders Fields”. You can get these from the Memorial Day Foundation, or from sellers you’ll find in front of many department stores on Memorial Day.

When you wear your remembrance, you encourage others to observe Memorial Day as well, so don’t forget to wear your patriotic spirit.

Beliefnet Celebrates Memorial Day 2011