This weekend is a very solemn occasion. There is no dedicated ceremony for us to follow. Various customs have arisen from the Memorial Day Weekend holiday. Most Notably, is to fly the American flag at half-staff until noon. Then from noon until sunset, to fly the American flag at the top!
Ways to Remember the Fallen
“In Flanders Fields,” by John McCrea was written during World War I. This poem inspired wearing red artificial poppies as a sign of remembrance. Throughout the years, the sale of poppies helps support the work of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
Rosemary – A gift of rosemary lets others know that their loved ones will always be remembered by those left behind. Visitors place a sprig of Rosemary on top of Military graves.
Coins – When placed on a military grave simply mean that you visited recently. A Nickle indicates that you and the deceased trained together in boot camp. A Dime indicates that you served with them in some capacity. A Quarter indicates that you were with the soldier at the time of his/her passing. The coins are eventually collected by the cemetery staff. The funds are put towards maintaining the cemetery. They may also help pay for the burial costs for an impoverished veteran.
Each Memorial Day Weekend is Different
Here are a few milestones:
Memorial Day 1922
The Lincoln Memorial was dedicated by former President William Howard Taft before a crowd of 50,000 people.
Memorial Day 1988
Over 2500 motorcyclists hosted the first Rolling Thunder Rally. The intent was to draw attention to the many Vietnam War soldiers still missing in action or prisoners of war. Now, over 500,000 people participate in this event. This year, due to COVID-19, the event was held virtually. Participants rode 22 miles in their local communities. Why 22 miles? To bring awareness to the fact that an average of 22 veterans dies by suicide. Every. Single. Day.
Memorial Day 2000
A National Moment of Remembrance was established by Congress in 2000. This moment asks Americans to pause for one minute at 3 p.m. in an act of national unity. This time was chosen because “is the time when most Americans are enjoying their freedoms.”
There’s no question that Memorial Day is a solemn event. But don’t feel too guilty about doing something fun with your family. By doing so, you still honor the reason for which our soldiers gave the ultimate sacrifice. Our Freedom.
Guests celebrated many milestones at RVC Outdoor Destinations resorts this year. They celebrated birthdays, engagements, and anniversaries. Baby’s experienced their first camping trips. Also, guests managed businesses remotely from their RVs. Families used this as a time to have reunions with their relatives. Kids learned to ride bikes without training wheels. We all had an opportunity to reflect and reevaluate our priorities.
Here is a link to our full photo album on Facebook.
RVC Outdoor Destinations develops, owns, and operates vacation resorts set within naturally beautiful environments. They are in close proximity to local attractions and activities. We offer RV Sites, Cottages, Yurts, and Tent camping at our 9 locations across the country! Visit our rvcoutdoors.com for more information or to speak with a reservation specialist through our Live Chat!
