Memorial Day weekend is upon us and people will be vacationing, barbequing, spending time with family and friends, and paying tribute to our fallen soldiers.

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer and usually comes with lots of family gatherings, BBQs, and fun in the sun. Many people also party heavily and drinking and driving is a major concern. Be careful when on the roads and have a designated driver if you plan on drinking alcohol! If you don’t have a DD and can’t drive home, always opt for a taxi or take advantage of AAA’s Tow To Go program, which picks up inebriated people and takes them and their cars home. To learn more about the Tow To Go program, click here.

Another fun part of Memorial Day is the BBQs! If you’re hosting one there are lots of great ways to show off your creativity and patriotism through food and decoration. You can make American flags out of fruit plates by using strawberries/raspberries/watermelon, bananas, and blueberries. You can weave red and white streamers and lay them over a white table cloth, serve red drinks with blue and white straws, and make good old fashioned American staples like apple and cherry pies, cheeseburgers, and cornbread. If you want some more holiday and party planning ideas you can check out our Pinterest, here.

Memorial Day isn’t all fun and games, and it’s important to remember what we’re celebrating. Memorial Day began to honor the fallen soldiers of the Civil War. It was originally called Decoration Day and fell on May 30^th. By the 1900s, the holiday encompassed all soldiers who’d lost their lives in battle and some even take the day to remember their lost loved ones. In 1968, Congress decided to change the date to the last Monday in May in order to have a three day weekend. Many believe this change undermines the meaning of the holiday, advocating for a return to the original date of observance.

Many people have forgotten that the true meaning of Memorial Day is to honor the brave men and women who have died serving our country. So this Memorial Day, have a moment of silence at your BBQ, light a candle, visit a war memorial/cemetery, fly the American flag at half-staff before noon, or honor those who sacrificed their lives for the USA in your own way and remember why we live in freedom.