Observances throughout the country will be staged over the long weekend to recognize the #sacrifice of those who perished defending the United States. One popular annual event is the National Memorial Day Concert, which is set to be broadcast on Sunday, May 28, 2023, at 8 p.m. ET live from the U.S. Capitol. A remembrance ceremony will take place on Monday, May 29, with a speech from President Biden. More than 130 Veterans Administration events are planned, as well as countless local parades and #memorial observances. “On Memorial Day, we #honor the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation,” says VA Secretary Denis McDonough. #MemorialDay
Tag: Memorial Day
Memorial Day: A 156-Year-Old Tradition
Memorial Day began after the Civil War, the nation’s bloodiest conflict. Formal and informal ceremonies honoring soldiers who had fallen in battle began in 1866, according to Veteran.com. By 1868, the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), a Union veteran organization, had established Decoration Day in late May as a time for the nation to decorate graves with flowers. The armed services and individual states codifed the holiday and adopted policies for observing it. After World War I, the day was expanded to honor all who died in U.S. wars, but it wasn’t until 1971 that Memorial Day was declared a national holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May. #MemorialDay
Theme Your Cookout to Maximize Memorial Day
After you call, visit or #memorialize your favorite #veteran(s) on Memorial Day, a cookout is the perfect way to launch the summer with family and friends. To make it truly memorable, give your gathering a festive theme, The Spruce suggests. Good menu options include Southern barbecue, craft-beer tasting, hot dog/burger bar, and (for maximum potluck potential) “You bring it, we grill it.” Add some outdoor games such as cornhole, croquet or badminton to work off those cookout calories, and let the summer fun begin! #MemorialDay
Celebrate the Start of Summer
The unofficial start to #summer, Memorial Day is ideal for a family activity, even if it’s just a short road trip or staycation. Celebrate those who gave their lives for the country by paying your respects at a cemetery, flying the flag, and making red-white-and-blue treats for a picnic or cookout, Country Living suggests. Parades are another great option, as are quick jaunts to a beach, park or nature preserve. It was a long and likely stressful winter, so take advantage of the extended weekend and — as Grandma used to say — go get some air in your fur. #MemorialDay
Shopping the Memorial Day Sales?
Like so many American holidays, Memorial Day is a great day to shop for deals on big-ticket items such as automobiles, mattresses and furniture. While we at The Organizing Blog would rather be eating hot dogs and barbecue beans, #cleaning the #garage and playing a round of bags, we won’t judge if you shop the long-weekend sales on furniture, outdoor gear and other products. Just remember the cardinal rule of #decluttering when you take delivery: To keep your amount of #stuff from getting unmanageable, get rid of one similar item (or two) for every new item you bring into your home. #MemorialDay