The last Monday is May marks Memorial Day (originally called Decoration Day) in the U.S. In Canada and Australia, November 11 marks the similar Remembrance Day. On these days, we remember the soldiers who have died in service to their countries.
In 1966, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson declared that the first official Memorial Day took place on May 5, 1866, in Waterloo, NY. Memorial Day history goes back at least to Civil War times when Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30, presumably because flowers would be in bloom across the country. Observers strew flowers across graveyards, recited prayers, and sung hymns.
The Buddy Poppy
The red Buddy Poppy silk flower, based on the poem In Flanders Field written in 1915 by Canadian physician Lt. Col. John McCrae, M.D., has become a symbol of honoring or remembering fallen soldiers. To honor those who have died, people often pin poppy flowers to their coats. You can color, cut out, share, and pin these poppy flower printables to your clothing or use them for other crafts.
Memorial Day Weekend Activities
In the U.S., Memorial Day signals the beginning of summer. Families often spend the holiday weekend getting out the barbecue, having picnics, and watching parades. The historical significance of the day can be included during these activities, too.
You could have your picnic at the cemetery and decorate the graves of loved ones and others who died in service during wars. That's what Decoration Day was about- decorating the graves of the war dead with flowers to honor and remember their lives.
Memorial Day Lesson Plans
In her article, "Teaching the Meaning of Memorial Day," Ashley Anderson offers ideas for sharing Memorial Day by way of math (the number of war casualties), social studies (dioramas), art, and language studies (poems and essays).
Lena Gott shares more Memorial Day coloring pages and activities for children in her article. You'll find links to cross word puzzles and word search worksheets, too. For even more Memorial Day activities for children, visit USMemorialDay.org.
Memorial Day and Remembrance Day are days to remember the lives of fallen soldiers. Get out the photo albums and tell stories and about the fallen soldiers in your family.
Related: Flag Day Printables
Source: "Memorial Day." U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
Sara McGrath - Sara is a veteran homeschool mom of three, Usborne consultant, and the author of Unschooling: A Lifestyle of Learning.
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