This U.S. federal holiday is observed on the last Monday of May to honor the men and women who have died while serving in the military.
While a solemn occasion, Memorial Day is also the unofficial first day of summer. Traditionally, people visit gravestones of service men and women on Memorial Day where volunteers place American flags for those who died in service. You might see red poppies, which are worn in remembrance of those fallen in war, a tradition that began after the publication of the World War I poem In Flanders Fields. The Boy Scouts in my town ceremonially burn old and tattered US flags on Memorial Day in our town square in order to dispose of the flags properly. It is a moving service every year.
Because Memorial Day is on a Monday, the preceding Saturday and Sunday have been combined to make a 3-day weekend. Many homeowners with pools take this opportunity to take the covers off to clean them and start enjoying some splish-splash time. Weather permitting, a picnic using a grill can't be beaten! I know I get jealous (and hungry!) from the yummy aromas wafting from all my neighbor's grills. Add in some potato salad, coleslaw, and ice cream to your feast, and soon you'll be ready to settle in for a good movie, like Top Gun or The Dirty Dozen.
Pools, picnics, and your favorite people. All the great ingredients for a terrific Memorial Day weekend. Give those unable to be with you a call, and spend some time reflecting on those who never returned from their service to the United States. And yes, hello Summer!