Memorial Day Activities

Memorial Day is a national holiday all across the USA. It is a day that is set aside to honor and remember the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Many people also visit cemeteries on this day to honor loved ones that they have lost. Memorial Day is also a day where you get to spend time with the family.

Are you looking for things to do this Memorial Weekend? Here are a few suggestions:

Rent a movie – If you don’t want to go to the movies but are in the mood to watch films in honor of Memorial Day that depict the sacrifices made by those who defended our country, you can watch a few of these:

• All Quiet on the Western Front (1930) – is considered a realistic and harrowing account of warfare in World War I
• The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) – Three returning servicemen fight to adjust to life after World War II.
• The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) – After settling his differences with a Japanese PoW camp commander, a British colonel co-operates to oversee his men’s construction of a railway bridge for their captors – while oblivious to a plan by the Allies to destroy it.
• Coming Home (1978) -A woman whose husband is fighting in Vietnam falls in love with another man who suffered a paralyzing combat injury there.
• Platoon (1986) – A young recruit in Vietnam faces a moral crisis when confronted with the horrors of war and the duality of man.
• Born on the Fourth of July (1989)-The biography of Ron Kovic. Paralyzed in the Vietnam war, he becomes an anti-war and pro-human rights political activist after feeling betrayed by the country he fought for.
• Saving Private Ryan (1998) – An American epic war film set during the invasion of Normandy in World War II.

Go to the Movies–  Why not make plans to go to the movies with your other half and/or kids. Many new movies are released during this time in the hopes of drawing in the crowds. Here are a few suggestions of new movies released:

• Godzilla – The film retells the origin of Godzilla in contemporary times as a “terrifying force of nature”.
• Million Dollar Arm – In a last ditch effort to save his career as a sports agent, JB Bernstein (Jon Hamm) concocts a scheme to find baseball’s next great pitching ace. Hoping to find a young cricket pitcher he can turn into a Major League Baseball star, JB travels to India to produce a reality show competition called “Million Dollar Arm.”
• X-Men: Days of Future Past – The story is partially set in an alternate future where surviving mutants have been penned in concentration camps, giant robots called Sentinels patrol America, and most of the X-Men have been hunted and killed.
• Blended – After a disastrous blind date, single parents Lauren (Drew Barrymore) and Jim (Adam Sandler) agree on only one thing: they never want to see each other again. But when they each sign up separately for a fabulous family vacation with their kids, they are all stuck sharing a suite at a luxurious African safari resort for a week.
• The Angriest Man in Brooklyn – Some people have bad days. Henry Altmann (Williams) has one every day. Always unhappy and angry at the world including everyone in it, Henry sits impatiently at the doctor’s office when he is finally seen by Dr. Sharon Gill (Kunis). Sharon, who is enduring her own bad day, reveals that Henry has a brain aneurysm. This news makes Henry even angrier, yelling at Sharon he demands to know how much time he has left. Faced with Henry’s anger and insults, Sharon abruptly tells him he has only 90 minutes. Shocked and reeling by this news, Henry storms out of the office leaving Sharon stunned by what she has just done in a lapse of judgment. As Sharon goes on a city-wide search, Henry struggles with his diagnosis, determined to make amends with everyone he has hurt in his life.

Go to a parade – There is nothing like a Memorial Day parade where you can experience a little slice of Americana. Whether it is a small neighborhood parade or a large city parade, there is something for everyone scheduled across the US. Kids and adults alike are wearing their red, white and blue and proudly waving the American flag in honor of our men an women who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.

Plan a Picnic– Plan a picnic to your local state park. It will give the kids a chance to get out and explore nature. Put together some things to barbecue on the provided grills and plan to arrive early to get the best spot.

Entertain at Home – Fire up the grill and invite friends and family over. Need a few recipe ideas?  Our Best Ever Easy Grilled Veggies with Potatoes is quick and easy and so delicious. It will go great with any entree you serve. Another great side dish to serve is Sage’s Old Settler’s Baked Beans. There is nothing better than to kick off the season with a flavorful dish of baked beans along side your hot dogs, hamburgers or BBQ ribs on the grill. Our Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches makes the perfect main dish for any family get together on the weekend. This recipe makes for great summertime entertaining as your work in the kitchen will be long done before the guests arrive and all you have to do is put together the sandwiches at the last minute!

These are just a few ideas on how you can spend your Memorial Day.  How will you spend your Memorial Day?

Pam Buttikofer is a co-founder of Imperfect Women. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband of 36 years and enjoys spending time with her husband, sons and her lovable pups.