Memorial Day Resources 2024

Memorial Day videos

While YouTube has numerous videos, here is a recommended video about Memorial Day: The Poppy Lady - Moina Bell Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans

Also, archivist Rod Ross brings meaning to the intention of the founder of Memorial Day, John A. Logan, whose 1868 proclamation led to today’s holiday. - Memorial Day: Why It Matters

Facts about Memorial Day

In 2000, only 28% of Americans understood the true meaning of Memorial Day (www.ngl.org). It is important that we do not forget the sacrifices of our military service members. We must pause to honor, reflect and remember the precious lives lost while fighting in war.

The facts and information that follows is Operation We Are Here's efforts to re-educate and reinform Americans regarding the importance of Memorial Day and provide meaningful ways to honor the fallen.

What is Memorial Day about? Here are some quick facts...

Memorial Day is a national holiday set aside to honor military service members who died fighting in a war.

Memorial Day is sometimes confused with Veterans Day. On Veterans Day, November 11, we thank and honor those who served in the military.

Major General John A. Logan, a Civil War veteran, founded Memorial Day in 1868. Following the Civil War, a small group of women went to a cemetery in Columbus, Mississippi and honored the Soldiers of both the North and the South by putting flowers on their graves.

Memorial day was initially called Decoration Day because graves were decorated with flowers and flags. In May of 1874, Mrs. Laura D. Richardson of Knoxville, Tennessee, Chairperson of a committee to obtain flowers for decorating the graves in the national cemetery of Knoxville, saw flags in a store window. She had an idea and subsequently purchased the flags and had the local lumber mill provide the wood for tiny flagpoles. This began the movement to decorate graves with flags.

It was changed to Memorial Day to put the emphasis on the Fallen, not the graves.

Initially it was observed on May 30, but in 1971, when it became a national holiday, Congress changed it to the last Monday of May to create a three-day weekend. This change, some argued, would contribute to Americans neglecting the true meaning and observances of the holiday.

Poppies, a symbol of death in war, have been worn on Memorial Day since 1915 to remember the Fallen. This movement was initiated by an American teacher named Moina Michael who read the well-known poem by a Canadian military doctor, "In Flander's Fields."

Flags In takes place at Arlington National Cemetery and the U.S. Soldier's and Airmen's Home National Cemetery every Friday before Memorial Day. The 3rd U.S. Infantry (The Old Guard) honors the Fallen by placing American flags before the gravestones and niches of service members buried there. It takes approximately three hours to place the flags in front of more than 260,000 gravestones. The Old Guard soldiers remain in the cemetery throughout the weekend to ensure that a flag remains at each gravestone.

Every year on Memorial Day, the president of the United States gives a speech and places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns at the Arlington National Cemetery.

"Taps" is often played at Memorial Day ceremonies.

On Memorial Day, batteries on military installations fire a 21-gun salute to the nation's Fallen. Batteries at Naval stations and on ships also fire a salute of 21-minute guns.

In an effort to remind and re-education Americans about the true meaning of Memorial Day, the National Moment of Remembrance on Memorial Day was established by Congress in 2000. Americans are asked to pause at 3 p.m. local time and remember the Fallen.

In 1989 a bill was introduced to Congress to restore the traditional day of Memorial Day to May 30 in an effort to reinstate the neglected observance of Memorial Day. Every two years following, the bill was re-introduced. Learn more...

To this day, many Americans still do not understand the true meaning of Memorial Day, nor do they take any measures to observe Memorial Day for what it was established to be.

Memorial Day quotes

Meaningful Memorial Day quotes

"I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country." -- Nathan Hale, American patriot

“The beginning of the end of war lies in remembrance.” - Herman Wouk

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.

Rather we should thank God that such men lived." - General George S. Patton

"That we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom; and that government, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." -- Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address, 1863

"The 30th of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who 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...." -- General John A. Logan

"Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic." -- General Logan, 1868

"Let us in this solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those whom they have left among us a sacred charge upon a nation's gratitude, the soldier's and sailor's widow and orphan." -- General Logan, 1868

"This Memorial Day, on which we decorate their graves with the tokens of love and affection, is no idle ceremony with us, to pass away an hour; but it brings back to our minds in all their vividness the fearful conflicts of that terrible war in which they fell as victims.... Let us, then, all unite in the solemn feelings of the hour, and tender with our flowers the warmest sympathies of our souls! Let us revive our patriotism and love of country by this act, and strengthen our loyalty by the example of the noble dead around us...." -- General Logan, May 30, 1870

"All of us hope and pray that the time will come when we no longer need to dedicate memorials to men who died in battle--that we will dedicate memorials to those who live in peace--to all nations and all men." -- Senator Frank G. Moss, USS Utah Memorial ground breaking, December 7, 1971

"The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden." -- Ronald Reagan, Memorial Day speech, 1982

"To preserve the peace, we must never forget the sacrifices that have paved the way to peace." -- Bill Clinton, Memorial Day Address, 2000

"Changing the date merely to create three-day weekends has undermined the very meaning of the day. No doubt, this has contributed greatly to the general public's nonchalant observance of Memorial Day." -- VFW Memorial Day address, 2002

"They defended our nation, they liberated the oppressed, they served the cause of peace. And all Americans who have known the loss and sadness of war, whether recently or long ago, can know this: The person they love and miss is honored and remembered by the United States of America." -- George W. Bush, Memorial Day Address, 2004

Observing Memorial Day

Here are some suggestions, opportunities, and other insights...

Pledge to support the widows, widowers and orphans of the fallen. Do not neglect Gold Star parents, siblings, and others who grieve. Pray for them. Commit to supporting them in tangible ways. Learn ways to show your love and support. Support organizations that support the Gold Star community.

Listen to the podcast, Memorial Day, Honoring Those who Died for our Freedom. Gold Star wife, Lisa Hallett’s powerful story reminds us of the importance of honoring the legacies of the fallen, turning to God in grief, and remembering our freedom comes at a cost.

Wherever you are, run (or walk) in honor of the fallen - Pledge miles online to be a part of a living memorial in support of wear blue: run to remember on this Memorial Day, 2024. You can also support Carry the Load in their efforts to raise awareness for Memorial Day. Check their website for more details about the National Relay, Dallas Memorial March, and City Rallies.

Active duty military or recent veterans ~ Consider volunteering as a mentor for the TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) Good Grief Camps for children and teens. Learn more...

The Murph Challenge - Pledge to participate in the Crossfit Hero WOD ‘MURPH’ (originally named ‘Body Armor’) and join a unique group of Americans who pay tribute to Michael P. Murphy (SEAL), and donate to a prestigious organization founded by the Murphy family.

Watch Honor Flight: One Last Mission, a film about four living World War II veterans and a Midwest community coming together to give them the trip of a lifetime. Honor Flight the Movie is available on DVD from Amazon (or view it on YouTube here - LINK). The film was released in 2012, so as you watch, keep in mind that any statistics are dated. But, it will still show you what Honor Flight is all about as it takes you on a journey to Washington, D.C. and back. Today, the trips are generally the same, but with WWII, Korean War, and Vietnam veterans. Since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has taken over 230,000 veterans to their memorials in DC!

Help your local veterans groups (VFW, American Legion, etc.) to replace worn out grave markers/flags of deceased veterans at your local cemetery. Some civic groups or Boy Scout or Girl Scout troops put flags or flowers on veteran's graves on the Saturday before Memorial Day. Consider your cemetery's guidelines.

Visit a local or national cemetery. If you would like to locate persons with who were Medal of Honor recipients, visit this list of national cemeteries and click on your state. On the state page, choose a cemetery and under it, there should be a list for notable persons who are Medal of Honor Recipients.

Support The Honor Project, an initiative of the Travis Manion Foundation. Every year, TMF mobilizes volunteers across the country to pay respect to fallen heroes on and around Memorial Day. In 2024, we’re expanding our Memorial Day event to more than 40 cemeteries, where volunteers will place hand-crafted commemorative tokens at the resting places of fallen heroes and pause to reflect on their service and sacrifice. Spartans will be on the ground at Arlington National Cemetery as well as cemeteries in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington state.

Donate flowers at your local cemetery or through memorialdayflowers.org. Every year the Memorial Day Flowers Foundation coordinates private, public, and corporate sponsors, as well as with local organizers and volunteers to place a flower on the grave site of interred veterans. This floral tribute connects communities to honor their heroes and the sacrifices they and their families, made for our country.

"Happy Memorial Day!" Pull that phrase from your vocabulary; it is disrespectful. Would you really say that to a war widow or Gold Star family? As one military spouse says, "It's kind of like saying Happy "lots of people died" Day."

Take a moment to read, When Every Day is Memorial Day (a Military.com Spouse Buzz guest blog entry), written by a Gold Star spouse. Some gave all, and their loved ones experience the cost of freedom...in every moment... every day.

Pause at 3:00 p.m. local time for the duration of one minute on Memorial Day for the National Moment of Remembrance.

Attend a Memorial Day parade.

Visit VetFriends for a National Listing of Memorial Day parades.

The National Memorial Day Parade typically takes place in Washington, DC.

The city of Dearborn, Michigan is hosting its 98th Memorial Day Parade.

In Omaha, Nebraska, Patriotic Productions is hosting the 4th Annual Patriotic Parade & Concert. The Patriotic Parade honors our Nation’s Military, First Responders and Gold Star Families, while inspiring love of country in Americans of all ages.

Attend the annual National Memorial Day Observance at the Arlington National Cemetery's Memorial Amphitheater. Details - LINK

Watch the National Memorial Day Concert on Sunday, May 27 or attend a local Memorial Day concert or service.

Visit a war memorial, war monument or a military museum.

Fly your flag at half-mast from sunrise until noon only, then raise it briskly to the top of the staff until sunset. This may be a good time to check the condition of your flag. If it is time to replace it, do not throw it away; bring it to your local American Legion for proper disposal. Learn more about flag etiquette.

Wear a poppy. They are available from American Legion Auxiliary volunteers and Veterans of Foreign Wars in exchange for donations to assist disabled and hospitalized veterans in their local communities.

Talk to your kids about Memorial Day. Read a book to educate them (or go to YouTube and type "Memorial Day books" to watch read-aloud versions). Color a picture and send it to a veteran (we have many to choose from HERE!) Take time to do a poppy craft activity. Invite them to ask veteran family members about their wartime experiences. Ask them how they celebrate Memorial Day. Visit a nearby Veterans Hospital. Home school parents and teachers can utilize Memorial Day curriculum and activities found on this LINK.

Visit The Freedom Rock Tour in Iowa - The Freedom Rock (established in 1999) is a large (approx. 60+ ton) boulder located in rural Iowa that is repainted every year with a different Thank You for our nations veterans to honor their service to our country. The artist, Ray "Bubba" Sorensen II, was inspired by the movie Saving Private Ryan, as well as, wanting to give veterans a unique recognition on Memorial Day. While painting murals across the country Sorensen had the idea of spreading the message of The Freedom Rock to other small communities across Iowa. The idea in part came from the 99 county tours that both Sen. Grassley and journalist Kyle Munson took part in, and so the Freedom Rock Tour was born. For the next few summers Sorensen and his family will travel the state of Iowa to put a (smaller and unique to their area) Freedom Rock in each county. As the Iowa Freedom Rock Tour is about to conclude in the fall of 2020, Bubba has started the 50 State Freedom Rock Tour and is now booking across the country.

Write a "Letter to the Editor" of your local newspaper and remind your community about the true meaning of Memorial Day.

While it is important to remember lives lost to war, it is also a time to celebrate their lives and their memory. (This reminder from a military widow.)

While you enjoy the freedom we celebrate with family and friends this Memorial Day weekend, make the choice to incorporate the true meaning of Memorial Day in your celebration! Ask a veteran friend or family member what Memorial Day means to them. Collect money for an organization that supports the military community. If you know a Gold Star family, create a plan to support them.

Looking for creative ideas for your celebration? Visit our Patriotic boards on Pinterest for patriotic recipes and patriotic craft ideas.

Host a Memorial Day Program and invite a military veteran to speak.

Visit THIS PAGE to learn of additional opportunities to honor and remember our Fallen.

Websites

Arlington Cemetery

www.arlingtoncemetery.mil

This website details the nation's historic military burial ground in Arlington, Virginia.

Freedom Rock Tour

https://www.thefreedomrock.com

Annual "Thank You" to our nations veterans painted during the month of May for Memorial Day. Artist Ray Sorensen also known as Bubba started this annual tribute in 1999.

General John A. Logan Museum

www.loganmuseum.org

Major General John A. Logan was a Civil War veteran who founded Memorial Day in 1868.

Memorial Day History

www.usmemorialday.org

A resourceful website which details the history of Memorial Day. The site also includes poetry, speeches, photos, links and tips on how to observe Memorial Day. Visit this LINK to read the orders of General Logan in the observance of Memorial Day.

National Memorial Day Concert

http://www.pbs.org/national-memorial-day-concert/home/

Live on PBS on Sunday, May 26, 2024, from 8:00-9:30 pm ET (check local listings).

On the eve of Memorial Day, a star-studded lineup will grace the stage for one of PBS' highest-rated programs. This multi-award-winning television event has become an American tradition, honoring the military service and sacrifice of all our men and women in uniform, their families at home and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

National Memorial Day Parade

www.nationalmemorialdayparade.com

The National Memorial Day Parade presented by Boeing returns LIVE to Constitution Avenue this Memorial Day, May 27, 2024 at 2:00 PM! Join us in our nation’s capital as we honor the service and sacrifice of generations of Americans.

Attend the parade live, in person, or watch on television around the country and around the world, as the story of American sacrifice is shared from Washington, DC and beyond. Then, stay tuned for our very special Independence Day television companion: Our Sacred Honor: An American Salute. Airing on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox and CW stations nationwide, the National Memorial Day Parade and Our Sacred Honor commemorate the shared values of service and sacrifice that have brought us together throughout our history.

Stay tuned for continued updates on the 2024 National Memorial Day Parade!

The History Channel

https://www.history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history

This website includes, videos, speeches, photos and interactives.

US Federal Holidays - Memorial Day

https://usafederalholidays.com/memorial-day

Describes the history of Memorial Day and lists common activities that occur on Memorial Day.

VA - Memorial Day

http://www.va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/

The Department of Veterans Affairs' Memorial Day resources.

Waterloo Memorial Day Museum

https://wlhs-ny.com/national-memorial-day-museum/