More than 37 million people are expected to travel over the Memorial Day weekend, AAA says, and those who do should continue to exercise caution against the spread of COVID-19. Travel restrictions are still in effect nationwide, so even fully vaccinated travelers should check their destinations to avoid disruptions, closures and cancellations. Always keep a face mask handy for entering stores or public spaces; many retailers and municipalities are setting their own rules to enhance safety for all patrons. #MemorialDayTips
Tag: Memorial Day
Travel Without Causing a Summer Surge
New #COVID-19 infections in the U.S. are at their lowest in almost a year, according to Johns Hopkins, and 61% of adults have had at least one vaccination shot. But Memorial Day weekend is not that time to let your guard down while enjoying a beach, parade or cookout with family and friends. Continue to mask up when social distancing isn’t feasible (especially in enclosed spaces with strangers) and wash or sanitize your hands frequently. There’s no reason to contribute to a summer surge.
Honoring Your Heroes on Memorial Day
This Memorial Day promises to be a jubilant one. With a surge in vaccinations against COVID-19 — especially among the aging members of the veteran population — towns can again honor the memory of the more than 1.3 million people who have given their lives for the nation since 1775.
The Organizing Blog urges readers to get out and commemorate these heroes while observing proper social distancing to avoid the spread of the coronavirus. Many parades are back after skipping 2020 due to the pandemic, and outdoor activities remain relatively low-risk, especially for the vaccinated.
The unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day is a great time to have a cookout, go to the beach, or shop the garage sales. But you can make time to #honor those who died in service to their country before, during or after engaging in the #summer fun.
Reader’s Digest suggests decorating for the event, visiting a cemetery to place a flag and flowers on a grave, or watching a war movie. You can also observe a moment of silence privately during the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. on May 31.
This Memorial Day, we should also give special remembrance to nearly 600,000 citizens who have lost their lives to a dreaded disease in the last 18 months. (That’s more lives lost than in all of World War II.) And let’s also remember the heroic health care workers and volunteers who are on the front lines of the war on COVID.
While Memorial Day is designed to honor the deceased, you can support living veterans by writing letters to active-duty troops overseas or dropping off treats at the local veterans home. And if there are any veterans among your family and friends, this would be a great time to pay them a visit, take them to lunch or give them a call.
The Organizing Blog feels duty-bound (pun intended) to remind readers that it makes helping veterans easy. We pick up your donations of unwanted, lightly used clothing and household goods and resell them to fund veteran housing, health care, events and initiatives. Gather your donations and visit ClothingDonations.org to schedule a free, contactless #donation pickup.
This year, let’s honor the memory of those we’ve lost in a way that feels reverent and genuine. But let’s not forget that there are heroes still walking among us.
Observe Etiquette When Visiting Gravesites
If you wish to pay your respects to those who gave their lives in service this Memorial Day, remember to “display noble discipline” when visiting gravesites, says the Deseret News. Don’t allow children to run or play on markers, and leave the pets at home unless the pet has special significance to the deceased. Don’t play loud music, and phone ahead if you would like to include a quiet picnic as part of your observance or check any rules about what decorations can and can’t be displayed. “It can be a fine line between reverence and revelry,” the story says.
Rolling Thunder Heads to D.C.
Since 1988, Vietnam veterans who are also motorcycle enthusiasts have staged a Rolling Thunder rally in Washington, D.C., to call attention to the many POW/MIAs who are still unaccounted for from the conflict. Thousands of bikers now participate in the “Ride for Freedom” every year; beginning tomorrow, this year’s Rolling Thunder XXXII will be a three-day event that features a 185-mile ride from central New Jersey, a candlelight vigil, a barbeque, a wreath presentation, guest speakers, a musical tribute and more.