For those of you with children, how do you explain Memorial Day to them?

Nicholas Efstathiou I would explain to them with a visual aid like a memorial and why its important. (Duty Honor Country).

My children are all adults but I have ten grand-children. Every year I go to the local elementary school and I give them a small presentation on the "Real Meaning of Memorial Day" After I'm done with my presentation, I play Taps! This is a copy of my presentation:
The True Meaning of Memorial Day!
For most kids, “Memorial Day” means “Fun Three-Day Weekend.” It comes in late May, when days are long and the grass is green, a preview of summer vacation to come.
Indeed, for lots of families, the Memorial Day holiday kicks off a glorious season of barbecues, swimming, and other outdoor fun.
But the true meaning of Memorial Day goes much deeper than this.
American soldiers came from all walks of life and many of them are ordinary citizens who did something extraordinary. Millions of them have died defending our freedoms and our way of life.
This Memorial Day, on Monday, as we watch parades and enjoy time with family and friends, take time to reflect and remember those from our hometown and across the country who have served and died but will never be forgotten.

Remember the True Meaning of Memorial Day:
To Honor and Remember Those Americans Who Died Defending Freedom! Our right to be free!

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America
• MEMORIAL DAY IS a day of national awareness and respect to honor Americans who have died while defending this country. It has also become a national day for remembrance.
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Participate in Memorial Day activities in your community.
Ask your parents if they will take you to a Memorial Day Parade or Ceremony
Ask them to take you to a cemetery so that you can see all of the American Flags that are placed near the graves of all of the fallen soldiers.
Ask your mom & dad to show you how to display a flag with respect and dignity. Learn how to handle a flag when you raise and lower it. That the American Flag never touches the grown.
Red Poppies

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,
It seems to signal to the skies
That blood of heroes never dies

(Ask your parent’s if they can help you grow a poppy flower) The poppy can grow anywhere.

TAPS:
There are only 24 notes of Taps and when you hear it, you stand up straight, you do not talk and at the end, you do not clap or cheer.
Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more emotional than the call of Taps. The melody is both eloquent (powerful) and haunting (moving) and once you hear it, you will always remember how it sounds.
On Memorial Day, TAPS is always played to honor the men and women who paid that ultimate sacrifice, their life for our Country and for our freedom.
There are no official words to the music of Taps but here is one of the most popular verses:
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the sky.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.

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