Memorial Day Ideas

Memorial Day – The History

Each May, the United States celebrates a day called Memorial Day. Memorial Day was first widely observed in May 1868. The celebration commemorated the sacrifices of the Civil War and the proclamation was made by General John A. Logan. Following the proclamation, participants decorated more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldier’s graves.

In the following years since World War 1, the day has become a celebration of honor for those brave men and women who died in all America’s wars, as well as those who are Veterans and current members of the U.S. military.

Memorial Day was declared a national holiday in 1971. The U.S. celebrates this holiday the last Monday of May.

Memorial Day Ideas

Here are some Memorial Day ideas such as:

• On Sunday evening before Memorial Day (May 30th), as we prepare to remember the sacrifices made by those who have fought our nation’s wars, please turn on the lights or light candles in your houses of worship and in your homes. Leave them on through the night until the dawn comes on Memorial Day. We can demonstrate to the world that we share common values as people of faith and as patriots by this simple action. This will also bear witness to our commitment to peace and good will in the United States and all around the world.

• Identify and honor the fallen soldiers from your state or local region, particularly but no exclusively at your church service. If you can use flowers (single rose per soldier from your region, bouquets…), make sure that there are more flowers that will represent the loss of other lives (Iraqi, etc.).

• You can use several periods of silence and guided meditations during the church service. Try to use speakers minimally. Depending on the size of your congregation, you may encourage people to share their reflections (not a good idea if the congregation is large).

• At the end of the church service the congregation can take the flowers and go outside to create a makeshift memorial on the sidewalk.

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