Enjoy a list of Memorial Day traditions from our friends at PBS....(from www.pbs.org)
Every Memorial Day, families and communities across the nation take time to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. Americans observe this special holiday in many different ways.
- On Memorial Day, the U.S. flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon. In the morning, the flag should be raised momentarily to the top and then lowered to half-staff. Americans can also honor prisoners of war and those missing in action by flying the POW/MIA flag.
- Visiting Gravesites
- Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day because communities honored their war dead by decorating their graves with flowers. Many Americans make special flower arrangements and deliver them as a family to gravesites of their loved ones and ancestors.
- Participating in the National Moment of Remembrance
- In accordance with a congressional resolution passed in 2000, Americans pause wherever they are at 3:00 p.m. local time for a moment of silence to remember and honor the fallen.
- Visiting Local Veterans Homes and Hospitals
- Many living American veterans require long-term medical care or housing assistance, and they can often feel forgotten. The Memorial Day holiday is a great time to let them know that we appreciate their sacrifice and that of their families and their friends lost in battle.
- Attending Memorial Day Parades
- The Memorial Day parade is a time-honored tradition in cities and towns across America where neighbors come together to remember with pride those who sacrificed so much for our country.
- Experiencing the Nation’s Memorials
- Memorial Day can also be an opportunity to visit or read about the national memorials in Washington, D.C., as well as local memorials around the country.
- Brushing Up on Family and American History
- Memorial Day is a favorite time for Americans to read their family history, look at old photographs, and learn about their ancestors, especially those who died in the service of their nation. It’s also an occasion for reading Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and other historic and patriotic speeches by presidents and leaders of the armed services.
- Wearing Memorial Day Poppies
