Shady Pines Asks: What Is Your Memorial Day Celebration Missing?
Setting The Right Tone for Memorial Day
Hi everyone. I’m Mayor Beauregard Fibbs here today with a message that’s a little more serious than usual. You see I have a family member serving in the Marine Corps.
That’s why I’m asking you to use a slightly different approach to this upcoming holiday.
Memorial Day in Shady Pines usually includes a weekend filled with celebrations. It’s also a time to mark the unofficial start of summer.
Teach The Children Well
But there’s something beyond the parades, the picnics, and the family gatherings that often gets lost.
What about the true meaning of Memorial Day?
Do we tell the kids what this national holiday means to our country’s history, our nation’s warriors, and their families?
This is a really awesome learning opportunity not to be missed. Here are some ideas that can make it fun, too!
1) Create and fly the American flag
Help the kids make an American flag craft using construction paper or simply have your kids each draw their best American flag on paper. Staple the completed flags onto straws for flying.
If you own an American flag, you can teach older kids how to fly and fold the flag. There are 13 folds to the American flag and each has a special meaning. Hey adults, here’s where you may even learn something new too!
2) Visit and pay tribute 
You can visit a local Veteran’s cemetery or war memorial. To show honor and respect, bring flowers to place on a grave or at the memorial in remembrance of our nation’s fallen heroes. I’ll be doing this.
If you feel comfortable, as a family you can pray pray for the Veterans lost during service and sacrifice.
3) Sing a few patriotic songs
Why not teach your children America the Beautiful, the National Anthem or say the Pledge of Allegiance, and talk about the meaning behind each one.
Remind your kids to stand and place their hands over their hearts during these songs. This is a perfect way to show them the importance of honoring the sacrifices made by those in our military to protect our nation’s freedom.
4) Observe a Memorial Day Tradition
Our nation’s flag is flown at half staff until noon to remember Amrica’s fallen soldiers. Aftern noon it is raised to full staff as a symbol to show hope beyond death and to honor the heroes that are still with us. Did you know that?
5) Take a Moment for Silence
Finally, in 2000, Congress passed “The National Moment of Rememberance.” It asks that “Americans voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of rememberance and respect.”
The idea is for you to stop whatever you’re doing and bow your head for a moment of silent remembering.
Or, you can listen to the playing of
“Taps. It’s all done at 3PM local time as a symbol of 
national unity.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE PLAYING OF TAPS
From all of us in Shady Pines Story Town we wish you and your loved ones a safe and meaningful Memorial Day weekend!
– Mayor Beauregard P. Fibbs
You really know it’s spring in Shady Pines Story Town when the first day of May rolls around.
In fact, it’s such a big deal our mayor, Beauregard P. Fibbs, is declaring 
Vendors will sell everything from clothing to jewelrey, artwork, pottery and so much more. There will be live music and food trucks. Bring the family and let’s enjoy this marvelous month in a very Shady Pines way!”
A group gathering is welcome news after folks around here had to spend so much time apart because of the pandemic. Now the small Southern town can kick up its heels at a party or kick back and smell those bright, wonderful, spring flowers.
We’ll have all sorts of flavors available like chocolate, strawberry and vanilla, plus rocky road, pepermint, and so much more. After that, we’ll dance around the 
maypole.”
permanent maypole up all year round on village greens and in squares.
Thursday the 5th. Can you guess what it is? That’s right! Kim is organizing a Cinco De Mayo party. Kim grew up in nearby River City just over the McCaw River, but one of her best friends is from Mexico.
Hey everyone. We’re about to celebrate a very important day for our nation, 
and for the folks here in Shady Pines. I’m Scoop the Cub Reporter for The Shady Pines Gazette. Vet
It’s important to know who we’re celebrating. So explaining who qulifies as a veteran helps kids understand the honorees behind the holiday. A veteran is a former member of the armed services or military. Branches of the military include the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard, and veterans may have served during times of war or peace.
might be willing to show them their service memorabilia, photos or stories or even wear their uniform to help your child better understand the concept of what it means to serve.
I don’t know about you, but most people I know confuse Veterans Day and
I found some information from the
who served honorably in the military — in wartime or peacetime.”
I’m Zulah Talmadge with The Shady Pines Gazette and this is a topic our readers really like.
Think about it. The ocean
For More on World Oceans Day along with other specials days and events in June, make sure you pick up a copy of this month’s Shady Pines Gazette.
It’s Memorial Day weekend! Now that most of the country is opening up, it will be more like business as usual for this 2021 holiday. Even though the pandemic is still a reality, and social distancing is still encouraged, we are slowly getting back to normal. The Shady Pines Gazette news editor, Zulah Talmadge, put out the word a week ago that she wants the people of Shady Pines Story Town to let her know how they plan to celebrate. Now, she’s having a hard time answering all the calls coming in!
deal. The gathering this year will be larger than last year but folks will still be encouraged to stay in their own groups as much as possible.
Do you know what day it is? I’ll give you a hint. The folks in Shady Pines are gearing up and ready to party because it’s Cinco de Mayo. I’m Scoop the Cub Reporter with 
for you.
Today, Cinco de Mayo is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, mostly celebrated in Puebla, where the battle took place. Most of the country considers Mexican Independence Day, celebrated on September 16th, to be a more important day to express their patriotism.
Cinco de Mayo is widely interpreted as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage in the U.S., especially in areas with substantial Mexican-American populations. Here in Shady Pines we like to use this occaision to honor the diversity of our population. We believe that kindness and compassion begins with tolerance of one another’s different cutural backgrounds. So many residents have moved here from somewhere else. We like making everyone feel welcome. 
likes to say, “Viva La Difference!” She is having a big outdoor party at the center later today. Everyone is encouraged to bring a traditional dish of their choice like guacamole, salsa or tacos. Rita says people can dress anyway they want and that mariachi music will be played. Around the country, people will mark this wonderful occaision with parties of their own with Mexican folk dancing and such. Some of the largest festivals are held in 
To learn more about this month’s going on in our town check out the May edition of The Shady Pines Gazette!