Not Just A Holiday
Are you already thinking about your Memorial Day weekend plans? With pandemic ruless loosening up a bit, the good folks of Shady Pines Story Town are getting ready. The 31st of May will be here before you know it. How to you think your celebration will be different in 2021?
While folks consider the fun part of the holiday, a reader wrote to Zulah Talmadge, Editor at The Shady Pines Gazette newspaper, and asked a very good question. “Do you think kids know the real meaning behind Memorial Day?”
That made Zulah have to stop and think a minute. She realized that we can often get so caught up in the fun events associated with this holiday weekend, that we don’t stop to remember the very reason we observe this day.
So of course, Zulah thought that was reason enough for this article.
This is what she wrote:
More Than Fun In The Sun
It’s obvious that kids and adults alike love Memorial Day weekend. Why wouldn’t they with all the traditional activities like parades, barbecues, lawn games, fun in the pool, beach trips and the like? But at the same time, the true meaning of Memorial Day goes beyond all the fun and games. It’s actually a very serious and important holiday. For over 150 years, Memorial Day has been dedicated to paying respect to all the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
How It All Started
Have you ever wondered how this holiday became part of the U.S. Calendar? It’s always the last Monday in May. Memorial Day actually began as Decoration Day back in 1868, when the graves of Civil War soldiers were decorated with flags and flowers. It was renamed Memorial Day in 1967, and in 1968, the last Monday in May was officially declared a U.S. holiday, turning the day into a celebratory three-day weekend before summer begins.
Send Warm Wishes Of Gratittude
As you know, here in Shady Pines, we try to remind ourselves and our children to be kind and caring. One of the most important lessons any of us can learn is gratitude. So before you fire up the grill, maybe you and the kids send out heartfelt Memorial Day wishes. Here are some 
examples:
- For an American citizen, today is the day to proudly remember all the soldiers who gave their lives for the country. Let us bow our heads in their honor. Wishing you Happy Memorial Day.
- Love of this country, patriotism, is the reason why so many men and women fought for our land. Sending you warm wishes on Memorial Day.
- Today is the day to remember all the real heroes who serve this country with their military service. We honor them for their contribution in bringing happiness. Happy Memorial Day.
We Remember
For many of the members of our Shady Pines community who have friends or loved ones serving in the military, this can be a very solemn occasion. Some of those loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice and died in service to this great nation. It may be the same for your friends and family. Please know that we are keeping you in our thoughts on this Memorial Day 202!