Today’s blog post was developed by HandsOn Network, our national organization, in honor of Memorial Day weekend. With McGuire Veteran’s Hospital near by and Fort Lee right down the road, please consider spending some time over this 3 day weekend to honor those dedicated military men and women who give their lives for our country’s freedom. If volunteering is how you’d like to give back, head to our site and see what volunteer opportunities are happening this weekend!
Memorial Day was first celebrated in 1865 to honor fallen Union soldiers after the American Civil War. By the 20th Century, Memorial was extended to honor all fallen American soldiers. In 1968, Memorial Day became an official American holiday to be celebrated on the last Monday in May.
What can you do to honor the true meaning of Memorial Day? Check out today’s ideas below:
- Ask your local newspaper editor to include a list of names on Memorial Day of fallen soldiers in your community.
- Visit a military cemetery. Put flowers, ribbons, or American flags on soldiers’ graves.
- Wear a yellow ribbon in honor of current soldiers or veterans in your community.
- Fly an American flag in your yard at half mast to honor the memory of fallen soldiers.
- Take a moment of silence during your busy day to observe the military families who have lost a loved one to war.
- Write thank you letters for currently serving military or veterans for their service to protecting our country and community members.
- Visit a military museum or historic military site.
- Organize a community-wide observance to honor the military in your community who have served or who are currently serving.
- Change your Facebook profile picture to an American flag in honor of the military.
- Tell others why you are thankful for the military by using the hashtag #RememberThem on Twitter.
- Educate your children on the importance of observing Memorial Day and the dedicated service of military men and women.
- Volunteer with military families from babysitting children to cooking a meal for a military family in your community.
- Hold a donation fundraiser for your community’s veterans’ hospital.
- Volunteer with the Red Cross.
- Educate yourself on the needs of returning military and educate your community on these needs. Make sure that your community is accurately meeting veteran needs. The Community Blueprint has many educational resources.
- Get involved with the Got Your 6 Campaign.
It is important to always remember the dedicated service of military men and women. Their dedication to service is truly inspirational to every American, especially all of us in the nonprofit volunteer sector.
However your decide to celebrate Memorial Day this upcoming Monday, take time to honor those who have given their lives for our country’s freedom.
How are you honoring the military for Memorial Day? We would love for you to share in the comments section below!
Inspired by the National Memorial Concert on PBS, and by hearing General Powell call for practical ways to help our returning veterans, and by learning that there are an estimated 67,000 homeless veterans nation-wide, I would like to discuss ideas to help homeless veterans in Richmond and the surrounding counties.
I am one of the more fortunate veterans living in this area having returned safely from sea duty as a lieutenant USNR on active duty during the Vietnam era, now a senior citizen and retired state government civil servant of 74 years of age, happily married over 50 years with 2 children, 6 gchildren, and 4 ggchildren.
To discuss this issue, I am willing to set up a blog on my non-commercial website, if you and others like the idea.
Thanks, Nick W.
In Metro today, Olympia Meola reports that Governor McDonnell supports the new VA ID card for Virginia veterans. Since they cost $10 each, maybe the Gov. can come up with an extra $100,000 to pay for a card for each homeless vet in VA provided they can find their DD214 under the park bench!