What do you have planned this Memorial Day?

Are you thinking about spending all day at the beach? Or perhaps you’d rather spend your day in bed with a good book and a mug of coffee?

I love Memorial Day just as much as the next girl … after all it’s a 3-day weekend … and in my case, a paid day off work!

It really doesn’t get much better than that!

But this year, I’d like to encourage you to do something a bit different. Spend a few minutes reflecting on what Memorial Day is really all about.

With the barbecues, parades, and the rest of the hoopla going on on Memorial Day – it’s easy to lose sight of this wonderful day to honor the nation’s brave men and women who serve our country, and protect our freedom.

I believe it’s society’s job to teach our children to love and respect our military and this great nation we live in! So here are 6 ways you can honor the military this year on Memorial Day, and teach children to do the same:

1. Write a thank you letter
   This is a great activity to do with your kids! You’ll have the opportunity to teach your children about Memorial Day and you may also make someone’s day in the process! A Million Thanks is a great organization that makes sending letters to the military easy and straightforward. Check out their website for more info.

2. Visit one of the VA’s National Cemeteries
   You may want to bring flowers or some kind of memorial to honor a veteran. (There’s a list of VA Cemeteries here.)

3. Visit a wounded veteran in the hospital
   Take some time out of your day to visit a veteran in the hospital and thank them for all they have done! Bring along a card or special treat to cheer them up!

4. Attend a Memorial Day parade
   Check your local events to see if there is going to be a parade near you. This is another great idea for families with small children.

5. Serve Veterans
   There are many ways you can be of service to veterans. You can find opportunities in your area at All for Good.

6. Support a family with a loved one serving overseas
   Offer to mow someone’s lawn, bring them dinner, watch the kids, or help around the house. Any way you can help a family in need would be a great way to demonstrate support for our military.

I’d love to hear your Memorial Day plans … and shoot me a message if you have any other ideas of how we can remember our military this year!

Wishing you a very happy Memorial Day!