Memorial Day Activities: How to Honor the Fallen
Memorial Day snuck up on us again. And if you’re like most people, your brain went straight to cookouts, sales, and the unofficial start of summer. Mine too, honestly. But it’s more than that. So much more.
I didn’t grow up in a history-loving household. I had a general timeline rattling around in my head… enough to pass a test and that was about it. Then I married a man who lives and breathes American history. Our honeymoon? Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields. The grand finale: an all-day visit to Gettysburg National Military Park.
I was completely gobsmacked. I learned more about this country in that one day than in 16 years of formal education. Standing on that ground, trying to take in what happened there… that so many gave everything to preserve this republic. I felt a gratitude I hadn’t known before. It was almost too much to hold.
“That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.”
— President Abraham Lincoln
That visit rewired something in me. I hope this post does a little of the same for you.
What Memorial Day Is Actually About
Here’s the thing. Memorial Day isn’t a general “thank you for your service” holiday. That’s Veterans Day in November. Memorial Day is specifically for honoring and mourning the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice… who gave their lives while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
They didn’t come home. We get to.
That’s worth a moment of our long weekend. Don’t you think?
Fly Your Flag… and Fly It Right
If you have a flag, this is the weekend to use it. But there’s a protocol, and it matters.
On Memorial Day, raise the flag briskly to the top of the staff, then lower it solemnly to half-staff. Leave it there until noon. At noon, raise it back to full staff for the rest of the day.
Why? As the U.S. Memorial Day website explains it, the half-staff position honors the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service. At noon, their memory is lifted by the living, a resolve not to let that sacrifice be forgotten.
No flagpole? No problem. Display your flag with a black mourning ribbon instead. It’s a simple, respectful gesture that says everything without saying a word.
Get Out of the Backyard (Even for an Hour)
I’m not saying skip the cookout. I’m saying add something meaningful to the weekend.
Attend a local event or parade.
A quick search for “Memorial Day events near me” will turn up ceremonies, parades, and commemorations happening right in your area. Put on something red, white, or blue and show up.
Visit a cemetery.
This one sounds somber, but there’s something quietly powerful about walking among the graves of those who served, placing a small flag or a flower, pausing to read a name. You don’t have to say anything. Just being there is enough.
Plan an educational outing.
Military museums and battlefields aren’t just for history buffs. They’re for families who want their kids to understand that freedom has a price tag and people paid it. Here are some worth putting on your radar:
- National Museum of the United States Army, Fort Belvoir, VA
- Titan Missile Museum, Green Valley, AZ
- National Navy SEAL Museum and Memorial, Fort Pierce, FL
- National Museum of the Pacific War, Fredericksburg, TX
- National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, OH
- National Infantry Museum, Fort Benning, Columbus, GA
- United States Veterans Memorial Museum, Huntsville, AL
- Air Force Flight Test Museum, Edwards Air Force Base, CA
- USS Midway Museum, San Diego, CA
- Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, Denver, CO
- Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, Honolulu, HI
- Gettysburg National Military Park, PA
- Bunker Hill Monument and Grounds, Charlestown, MA
- Intrepid Museum, New York, NY
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Arlington, VA
For a more comprehensive list by state, check out Veteran Voices.
While You’re at It… Give That Flag a Wash
Here’s something most people don’t know: you’re allowed to wash the American flag. It’s in the official guidelines. And Memorial Day weekend is the perfect time to do it.
Don’t toss it in with the rest of the laundry. Give it its own load, or wash it by hand. Most flags today are a polyester-cotton blend, so warm water and regular detergent work just fine. Hang it to dry… never on the ground.
To store it without wrinkles, roll it around a long cardboard tube or PVC pipe, tie it with cotton string, and cover it with a plain cotton sheet. Your flag will be ready to fly with pride all season long.
Enjoy Every Bit of It
Memorial Day is a pause button… a chance to remember why we get to do all the things we love to do.
Enjoy the long weekend. Savor every bit of it. And somewhere in there, take a moment to honor the ones who made it possible.
God bless America.
Question: What are your favorite ways to remember and honor our fallen heroes on Memorial Day? Share your traditions in the comments. I’d love to hear them.
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My father did not “go off to war” (WWII) he did serve however. He worked at a manufacturing plant that supplies the troops with essential supplies. I was not born until peacetime in the 50s. My brother and sister were toddlers. My father in law was in the merchant marines and they assisted in the war effort as well. We honor all that gave their lives and the families that lost them. We fly our flag 365/24 lit at night . I cannot express my gratitude except through that and prayers. God bless America
BTW we live near the Los Angeles National Cemetery a site to behold any day. The Boy Scouts (and volunteers) place flags at all the gravesites for Memorial Day.
Is it okay to fly the flag everyday? Does it need to come in at night or have a light shine on it?
You can fly the American flag 24/7, year round. And yes the guidelines direct that it be lighted after dark. We have a flag at our home. We got a very inexpensive floodlight with a solar panel. It comes on automatically at dark and always has enough solar power to keep the battery going all night. And it works well all year round! That’s a testament to how many sunny days we have here in Colorado. But even on overcast days there seems to be enough energy to keep Old Glory lighted up through the night.
We have this particular solar light: Solar Spot Lights Outdoor, 2 Pack
Early this morning, I set out to visit the closest National Cemetery to participate in decorating the graves in the cemetery with American flags.
This cemetery has a section reserved for those who have been awarded the highest honor, the Medal of Honor. Each MOH grave has a special notation that gives the veteran’s MOH story. It was a privilege to read their stories.
People are also needed to remove the flags next Saturday. If you live near a National Cemetery, you might consider participating next Saturday, June 3.
Thanks so much for this, Mary. Another reminder of the price paid by so many for the freedoms we enjoy, and often take for granted. God bless America (land that I LOVE)!
God bless those who serve this country and protect our freedoms.
And we fly the Flag on Memorial Day!
Amen Mary! Thank you!
My grandfather (both) served and my father was a Marine Corp and fought in the Korean War. He lost his best friend to a landmine which my father saw.
My father always taught us about Memorial day and my adult son and I are going to be with my sister and brother in law for a BBQ and remember what our father and Grandfather fought for!
Also, my uncle Kenny served, my cousin (2 of them) served. Praise God for the men / women who fight for our Country! May God Bless them all!
Thank you, Mary! My husband, father, and uncles served in the Armed Forces. My grandfather served on the draft board in their little town. Grandma placed flowers on all the family graves on Memorial Day until she wasn’t able, then my aunt and oldest cousin took over. Years later, one of my younger cousins cleans each brass nameplate every Memorial Day. It’s truly a day of remembrance for my family.
Thanks for sharing this family history. You have a precious legacy in your family members who served.
Consider flying the flag EVERY day. Remember to bring it in at dusk and never display in inclimate weather
My dad had been in the army and was a commander of a VFW group, so I learned all about that. Then I married a man who missed his calling as a history teacher. It’s important to know what went before so hopefully, we can do better next time. I truly hope this current political cycle ends quickly, so that some of those lessons can be realized.