Making Memorial Day Memories

Making Memorial Day Memories

By Cate Rees-Hessel & Wes Hessel

Remember and Honor…

Memorial Day officially ushers in the summer season. Here are some fun ways to celebrate this holiday. Let’s honor our veterans that have given their lives in service of our country, making the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

1. Attend a mass or service on Memorial Day – light a candle for a military member that has passed. What better way to honor our fallen service members?
2. Send a card or gift to a military person; those on active duty would love some home baked cookies – older veterans may welcome a visit or small gift. Let those who serve or have served know you care.
3. Widows, widowers, and children of fallen soldiers might enjoy a present, also – a batch of brownies or a plant, perhaps.
4. Memorial Day used to be called Decoration Day, so let’s decorate. Honor the graves of service members with flags or flowers.
5. Red, white, and blue bunting, banners, and decor are great ways to get in the holiday spirit. Doors, patios, balconies, walls, and windows can all be decorated. I leave my patriotic decor up through Flag Day, July 4th, and Patriot’s Day.
6. POW and MIA bracelets may be a thing of the past but a nice patriotic pair of earrings or necklace looks pretty for the holiday.
7. Picnics and barbecues can be fun. Try new recipes with less red meat – try grilling fruits and veggies. Keep food safe from warm temperatures, iced or cooled until time to eat salads and cold sandwiches.
8. Parades, as well as outdoor concerts and films are free activities for the whole family to enjoy.
9. Avoid sparklers or other fireworks by your self – they can cause very serious injuries.
10. Veterans in nursing facilities might like a visit – make a new friend.
11. Patriotic films can be found online, on streaming services, and at your local libraries.
12. Many pools and water parks open Memorial Day weekend. Use a safe sunscreen (ones containing only zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide are the best) and enjoy water play. Remember SPF lip balm, also. It’s fun to hit the beach, but check conditions and bacteria levels locally before swimming – do the same for lakes. Install a weather app on your phone for quick updates on air quality, temperatures, and storm warning.
13. Pay attention to boating safety if you decide to do some sailing. Keep keys on a floating chain, at least enough life preservers on for everyone in the boat, and a well charged cell phone in a waterproof case with you at all times.
14. If it rains, an indoor picnic is just as much fun. Indoor grills are a great way to bring the outdoors inside.
15. Check ingredients before allowing pets any of the celebratory fare. Onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, and chocolate are some of the foods toxic to our furry friends.
16. Remember summer is a short season, so patriotic items are usually inexpensive. Some stores will put them on sale after Memorial Day, so you can stock up for the 4th.
17. Take a walk in the park, hike, or bike ride – summer is finally here. Some cities have free or minimal fee bike rentals available.
18. Use the long weekend to clean out your garage or basement. Power wash your deck or patio, and outdoor furniture. It’s time to get everything season ready.
19. It’s a great weekend to wash the car or the dog in the backyard.
20. Start a vegetable and flower garden – fresh vegetables and fruit you grow yourself are nutritious, taste great, and rewarding. And who does not love the look and fragrance of beautiful flowers?
21. Don’t forget the insect repellent – check websites like the CDC and Consumer Reports about the safety of the various active chemicals; I still like the Skin So Soft products by Avon, myself.
22. If you have allergies to bug bites, food or the like, carry your EpiPen, and your inhaler if your asthmatic. Hotter temperatures can cause worse reactions.
23. Stay hydrated – water is important in avoiding heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
24. Sunburn cream can be kept in the refrigerator for a nice cooling effect. Lipsticks, lip balms, and eye pencils are less likely to melt if kept cold, also. Toners are more refreshing when chilled, as well.
25. I am addicted to indoor plumbing, so camping does not work for me, but if you are inclined to enjoy nature this way, keep safety first and foremost. Know where you are – carry physical maps and a compass. Most cell phones go out of range when far from civilization. Have provisions such as hand sanitizer, wipes, extra socks, antibiotic, and burn ointment and bandaids with you, as well as acetaminophen and water with you. You might want to carry a pocket size Lysol for those outhouses. Keep a cooler with ice for anything perishable to avoid dehydration and food poisoning. Nothing can ruin a trip more than an unprepared and unexpected injury or illness. S’mores are great, but bring clean metal sticks to use over the campfire. Respect nature by cleaning up your camp site. Consider a tree hanging shower pack. Personally, I feel a nice camper with a kitchen and bathroom inside at a camp site or a cabin on the campground is a bit more my way of roughing it. Cabins have indoor plumbing facilities; guess I am a hotel kind of girl.
26. If you are traveling for Memorial Day, make sure your gas tank is full – carry a tire gauge, jumper cables, and Fix-A-Flat or the equivalent, as well as coolant and water in your trunk. Have transmission and brake fluid on hand, also.Check your vehicle’s oil before you, or get it changed. Make sure your battery is well charged. Check your car’s safety before you hit the road. Better safe than sorry, is my motto. Keep your motor club and insurance cards handy, too.
27. Many restaurants have outdoor patios to dine al fresco – search the Internet for money saving coupons and offers.
28. Festival season has begun. Wear your comfortable shoes and carry a light jacket for weather fluctuations. A bag chair or other portable seating is a must, also. Check policies before bringing a cooler. Many venues might require that you carry clear purses or tote bags – leave anything that might be problematic at home or locked in your car, out of sight. Carry a charged portable charger with you. Avoid wearing expensive jewelry, and keep cash and credit/debit cards on your person.
29. Enjoy your loved ones, include your fur babies, but make sure pets are permitted at your outdoor events. Check local leash laws, and bring a travel water bowl for Rover or Fluffy, when attending events close to home. When traveling with animals, pack a small favorite toy, disposable litter pan (for cats), and baggies of food. Furry friends likely won’t need clothes in warm temperatures but a cute neckerchief never hurts. Remember, if you are warm in your skin, imagine how hot they must be in fur – keep pets hydrated and cool. Bring a cold wet washcloth in a bag or container.
30. As a final suggestion, carry a few disposable bags, hopefully sustainable ones, for any trash you may accumulate. Find a garbage can or take the rubbish home to dispose of – never litter or just leave debris behind. Let’s take care of our planet, God bless America and our service members.

As President Biden said in his Memorial Day remarks last year, “We haven’t always lived up to it, but we’ve never walked away from it. And today, standing together to honor those Americans who dared all and gave all for our nation, we can say clearly: We never will.”