7 ways to observe Memorial Day weekend, from honoring service members to hosting a BBQ
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Memorial Day weekend is here. It's considered to be the unofficial start to summer for many, but the meaning behind it goes much deeper than that. Memorial Day is a time to honor the men and women that died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. They made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can live in the land of the free, allowing us to spend the day in a much more carefree way.
There are endless ways to spend your extra time, but it's important to first and foremost acknowledge the contributions of those who are no longer with us. Because of them, you can host a barbecue, get away for a mini vacation or even go shopping to enjoy the long weekend ahead. We’re here to help you decide how to spend your time by highlighting all the fun and meaningful things you can do over Memorial Day weekend.
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When is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day takes place annually on the last Monday in the month of May. This year, it falls on Monday, May 29th. Many schools and businesses observe the federal holiday and shut their doors for the day.
What is Memorial Day?
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in America wherein fallen soldiers are honored for their service and mourned for making the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Honor veterans in a meaningful way
It's important to acknowledge why holidays are observed, as it gives you a better appreciation and understanding of the day. Memorial Day, as per its name, was established as a day of remembrance, specifically for service members who gave their lives in the line of duty. It can be traced all the way back to the Civil War. In Charleston, South Carolina, Black veterans organized burials for Union soldiers and later held a parade commemorating those who had fallen. Around the same time, the first “Decoration Days” were held, wherein women decorated the graves of fallen Confederate soldiers with flowers. Memorial Day was declared a federal holiday in 1971.
No matter where you live in the U.S., there's a good chance that there’s a Memorial Day parade or memorial service near you to attend. You can ask your smart speaker to help you find an event.
Though it may seem like there’s no thank you that can quite cover the sacrifices of veterans, it can’t hurt to try. If you know of a late veteran, you can decorate their grave with a beautiful bouquet. You can also thank soldiers as you see them throughout the holiday. To thank active military members from afar, you can write letters to them or create thoughtful care packages to send them.
Spend time with friends and family
While Memorial Day is a day of remembrance, there's still space to have some fun, too. As it is a federal holiday, many businesses across the nation are closed and workers have the day off. Memorial Day has become widely regarded as the “unofficial start to summer” and an opportunity to gather with friends and family. You can host people right in your backyard for some fun in the sun and tasty grilling. Just freshen up the patio furniture and put out some lawn games for the whole family to enjoy. Looking to take it to the next level? You can also spruce up your home or car with some patriotic flair.
Dust off the grill
Memorial Day is the perfect excuse to break out the grill for a barbecue. If you've noticed us talking about grilling a lot, it's because there's seldom a bad time for it. If you already have a grill, just make sure that it’s clean before using it. New to grilling? There are many grills to choose from, but we recommend our favorite charcoal grill, the Napoleon NK22K-LEG-2. It’s sturdy, gives you 22 inches of grill to work with and distributes heat evenly. If you decide to buy the Napoleon, don’t forget to pick up some charcoal. When it comes to gas grills, our favorite is the Weber Spirit II, which is compatible with a nifty thermometer app to help you cook food to the perfect temperature. Whatever grill you choose, unless you’re handling the searing-hot food with your hands (which we at Reviewed do not recommend) you’ll need good tongs to get the job done right.
Enjoy a weekend getaway
Since you have the day off, you might want to take some time to get away from the house and spend some time in nature. Perhaps take a short camping trip with the best tents we've reviewed. The Coleman 4-Person Skydome is our tent of choice, particularly if you’re not comfortable setting up tents—the attached poles are a lifesaver. Hiking to your destination? Consider a walking stick and a solid pair of hiking boots. Our favorite hiking stick is the Cascade Mountain Tech thanks to its affordability, lightweight build and adjustable length. And you can’t go wrong with the Ultralight Hiking Boot by Season Three. They may be costly, but they look and feel great.
Maybe camping isn’t your style and you prefer a faraway destination. With that, you’ll need proper luggage to pack all your essentials. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune, either. We’ve got you covered with great luggage deals from Macy’s. Another way to make travel a whole lot easier is by keeping the kids good and distracted throughout your journey. Try some of these tried–and–true toys and games to entertain them. You can even get in on the fun with audiobooks that are a delight for the whole family
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Hitting the road? These are the worst travel times this weekend for air, road travel
Hit the beach or lounge by the pool
Another great way to spend your day off is to hit the beach. We can help you bring everything you need for a perfect day. We recommend checking out these online stores to find a perfect swimsuit. Throw a towel, your favorite shades and a quality water bottle in a beach bag and you're good to go. Don’t forget to put on sunscreen so you can make the most out of your fun in the sun without major sunburns or unfortunate tan lines.
If you’re more of a pool person and are lucky enough to have a pool, then you’ll need to clean it before you dive right in. We’ve prepared a handy guide to help you every step of the way.
Catch up on some much-needed R&R
Let's face it, as nice as it is to spend time with friends and family, you deserve some time to yourself, too. What better way to spend the long weekend than to catch up on well-earned sleep, ensuring that you're feeling recharged when Tuesday comes knocking? Your body will thank you for finally managing to get a good night’s sleep.
In our humble opinion, the most important ingredient to getting quality sleep is a good pillow and there's no better option than Coop Home Goods Original Pillow. This pillow can be adjusted easily to fill it with your desired amount of memory foam. Sleeping on this will send you to a blissful paradise.
If a new mattress is calling your name, consider buying the Leesa Hybrid. This soft, but sturdy bed contours to your shape for maximum comfort and makes you feel like you're slumbering on a cloud. Before you excitedly reach for your tracker to log all the sleep you'll be getting, you should know that it may hurt more than it helps.
Shop the best Memorial Day deals
With great holidays come great deals from major retailers like Amazon and Walmart. You won’t want to miss these sales that will make shopping over Memorial Day weekend worthwhile. Here are all the best deals happening.
Best Memorial Day sales: Save on appliances, patio furniture and TVs
Amazon deals: Save on Apple, Waterpik and Skullcandy
TV deals: Make your own home theater with TV deals at Amazon, Walmart
Patio furniture deals: Get your backyard summer-ready
Lowe's deals: Save on Whirlpool, LG and Ring
Macy's deals: Save up to 40% on luggage, swim and furniture
Fashion deals: Shop sales at Coach and lululemon
Best Buy deals: Save on Nintendo, Lenovo and Greenworks
Walmart deals: Get savings on Apple, Beats, Dyson and more
Mattress deals: Shop sales at Mattress Firm, Casper, Purple
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This article originally appeared on Reviewed: Memorial Day 2023: When is Memorial Day weekend and how to spend it
