Memorial Day was first celebrated
as "Decoration Day" in 1868 as
a day to decorate the graves of
soldiers who had given their lives in
the Civil War.
After World War I, it became a
holiday to honor Americans who
died fighting in any war. In 1971,
President Nixon declared it a
federal holiday.
Memorial Day is a perfect time
to remember all those American
soldiers who have sacrificed their
lives to defend freedom and the
American way of life. Maybe
you have grandparents, great-
grandparents or other family
members to honor.
Here are some good ways
to celebrate:
• Fly the American flag.
• Visit a Veteran's cemetery or
memorial and bring flowers or a
flag to leave there.
• Sing a patriotic song, like the
National Anthem or America the
Beautiful. Or recite the Pledge of
Allegiance.
• Send a care package to a
soldier who is currently serving in
the armed forces. Kids can write
a letter thanking them for their
service, send them a handmade
craft, or ship supplies or other
items through an organization like
Operation Gratitude.
A time to
remember
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Maybe you think of Memorial Day
as the official start of summer, time
for a barbecue, or the day that the
pool opens, but the holiday is much
more than that.
Memorial Day, which is celebrated
every year on the last Monday in
May, honors the brave men and
women who lost their lives while
serving in the American military.
Ask your adult to go to operationgratitude.com or
anysoldier.com for ideas and information.
Of f icialKidsMag.com • MAY 2020 • 7
