Memorial Day Memorial Ideas

May 23, 2024

“Ready, aim, fire!” a yell orders.

Rifles fire at once. The sounds repeat in an organized pattern. Black suits stand with white hats, saluting in white gloves. Fighter jets close in overhead and zoom by. One jet skyrockets upwards, while the other three continue straight on. A lone trumpet can be heard, playing a familiar tune that breaks through the silence, causing a tear to drop.

This scene plays out in Top Gun: Maverick, remembering and honoring a character for their service. The soldiers stand in formation, firing their rifles in tandem, their movements stiff but fluid as they move in the same way. This is a day to remember them in respect.

Memorial Day is just a few days away. This long weekend can feel like a day off of work to many, but it is meant to be a day of memoriam. Here, we go over some ideas on how you can remember those soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice to our country. Continue reading for Memorial Day memorial ideas.

First, Memorial Day is not wishing someone “Happy Memorial Day”

Memorial Day is remembering and honoring the death of those who served in our military who died in combat. We must not forget that. It is a day to reflect on the lives of fallen soldiers in our country, not a day to party. Here is a link to more information about Memorial Day as it is solemn.

You can still celebrate your loved one’s life. They deserve to be celebrated, even with a party if that is how you want to remember them. Hold a family gathering and remember them over their favorite meal and make a toast to your soldier. If you want to do something special for a soldier you know who died while serving, sometimes simply visiting their grave is enough.

Memorial Ideas: Visiting the Cemetery & More

One of the most wonderful things you can do to remember fallen soldiers is to visit memorial areas honoring them or a cemetery where you know a soldier rests in peace. This is a time when you can respect and honor them through your thoughts quietly, pray for their souls to rest in peace, or tell a loved one about them if you have known them.

Here are more ways you can participate from the Memorial Day Foundation,

By wearing your Memorial Day Button from the first of May until Memorial Day.
By visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
By flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon. Memorial Day is a day of “National Mourning.”
By attending religious services of your choice.
By visiting memorials.
By participating in a “National Moment of Remembrance” at 3:00 PM local time, to pause and think upon the meaning of the day and for taps to be played where possible.
By renewing a pledge to aid the widows, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

Memorial Idea: Going to a Memorial Service

Many local towns hold some Memorial Day service, before or around Memorial Day. These things can be ceremonies where veteran organizations hold the playing of taps at a memorial or cemetery, fundraisers, or holding picnics or luncheons after a memorial service. There are also televised services we can witness as a nation like gun salutes. Other military traditions that honor fallen heroes may occur at a funeral like gun salutes, and the missing man formation as described in Top Gun: Maverick for fallen pilots. Perhaps the most well-known way to honor a fallen soldier is the playing of taps. This singular trumpet song can send chills or a tear as one remembers and honors those who sacrificed their lives for our country.

Bakken-Young: Here to Help

We are here to help you with funeral planning, and arrangements, and to be with you as you grieve. We can help you truly honor your loved one who passed, especially if they are a fallen soldier. Their wishes will be carried out to every detail. Contact us today for support or questions.

On a final note, we will leave you with an inspiring quote to ponder over Memorial Day:

“We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. All that the consecrated wealth and taste of the nation can add to their adornment and security, is but a fitting tribute to the memory of her slain defenders. Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no vandalism of avarice or neglect, no ravages of time testify to the present or the coming generations, that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided Republic. If other eyes grow dull, and other hands slack, and other hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as long as the light and warmth of life remains to us.”

–General John Logan, General Order No. 11, May 5, 1868