Memorial Day Weekend

The first of the summer patriotic holidays is this weekend.  Okay, Memorial Day, where did you come from all of a sudden?

It seems as if we were just complaining about the cold, wet winter and now?  Boom!  Summer has arrived.

Memorial Day weekend arrives amidst such a flurry of activities with graduations, school release, vacation plans.  It’s easy to let it get lost in the crazy, but this year, here are a few suggestions to mark the holiday as extra special.

Make it Meaningful

We attend an event at our local veteran’s memorial each year.  The hour(ish) long ceremony is now held at 9 a.m. which is much better for beating the heat.  All the volunteers who make this event happen each year do a wonderful job and if you are at all near Anthem, consider checking it out.

If you’re not in the area, do you have a tradition honoring Memorial Day?

Visit a National Park or Cemetery

Our National Parks host memorial events across the country and their site is easy to navigate if you’re interesting in visiting a park near you.

On our recent trip to Hawaii, we took out a few minutes to visit the National Cemetery and it was a wonderful afternoon.

Host a Gathering

I know weather has a tendency to do exactly what it wants, but this weekend may be perfect to host a gathering and to entertain al fresco. 

Things are so much easier and casual when they are out on the patio.

Have a Picnic

And if you don’t have much of a patio or don’t feel like having a gathering, arrange a picnic.  Yes, there will be crowds, but there is also a potential for a lot of fun. 

Potlucks are great when everyone can bring their own signature dish.  Nobody generally leaves hungry, so don’t forget a Frisbee or another activity to work off some of that potato salad!

Watch a Movie

If the weather really is not cooperating, pop some corn, ice some tea and plop in front of the tube.  Watch a movie you loved from years ago and maybe have forgotten.  Here are some suggestions across different genres:

• Field of Dreams
• Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
• Star Wars (the original from 1977)
• Beauty and the Beast (1991 animated version)
• Pulp Fiction
• Top Gun (either the original or the newer!)
• The Sixth Sense (yes, it’s still good even though you know the ending)
• True Grit (Jeff Bridges version, please)

Bring Out the Red, White & Blue

I know you have odds and ends here and there that represent Old Glory, so go on a little treasure hunt and bring them out.

Did I tell you my sisters gifted me napkins for my birthday?  Sister Susie sewed an American flag on them and duped the drool-worth Pottery Barn denim-look version?

I love them and will use them for years to come.  Except the part where they need to be ironed. That part I don’t love.

But they are washed and ironed now, so if you happen to stop by this weekend, feel free to use one.

Wrap Up

I hope this post gave you some ideas on maximizing your long weekend.  Of course there will be killer sales out there (or so my inbox would indicate) but there are much better shoppers who can cue you on that.

God bless you and yours this week and let us know if you’ve made plans for the weekend that kicks off summer!