Celebrating Memorial Day

Starting family traditions

The Parade

We started off the day by attending an annual Memorial Day Parade put together by the community of Kensington in San Diego.  What I thought to start at 10:00am on the dot actually started at 10:45am, so we were there early enough to get good seats (but really there were plenty of them). I loved being surrounded by neighboring patriots and ringing in another year of admiration for fallen military men and women.

We lathered the kids with sunscreen, kept them hydrated and pumped them up for what they were going to see. Yes, this was their first parade (first that they could appreciate anyhow).

The parade brought many exciting attractions like our city Mayor, Jerry Sanders, kids on stilts, Cat in the Hat characters and much, much more. The boys’ loved getting free stuff. They received USA flags, donuts, scones, book markers, candy and even the Constitution of the United States-awesome.  If you ask Rockford what his favorite part he’ll tell you, “My favorite part was seeing the race cars.” Yes, yes we know Rockford, the red one because it looked like Lighting McQueen.

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The Food

Later we headed to my mother-in-law’s home to start the food. On the menu, carne and pollo asado (roasted beef and chicken to grill), rice and beans and all the fixin’s. My mother-in-law’s food is always amazing.

The family activities

Growing up in a family of eight kids then having several nieces and nephews, really equipped me and earned me the title of  “Queen of Kids’ Activities”. Now I get to do this with my own kids and start new traditions with them. I opted for two activities where at least one involved the entire family to participate together. Do feel free to borrow these ideas.

The Poppy Flower

Why poppy? Please read this awesome link where I first learned about the importance and symbolism behind this cute flower.

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/customs/remembrance/poppy.htm

• picture of poppy (you can draw it yourself with a black marker)
• black buttons
• red ribbon
• hole puncher
• Elmer’s Glue
• Red and Black crayons

  

  Tada! Here it is!

Canvas painting

The second activity was a painting that we call, “Thank you for our Freedom”. This was a family effort and although we are no Picasso, our message is clearly heard. This now hangs in our hall wall and is a daily reminder of our gratitude to all our fallen soldiers.

Items needed:

• 12×16 canvas (available at art stores and Michael’s)
• Acrylic paints (red, white, blue, black)
• Print a picture to glue on it (optional)
• your creativity

Movie Time

Finally, we finished the night watching the movie “Full Metal Jacket” (well, my husband and I did the boys were in bed).  If you haven’t seen this movie it is a classic done in the late 80’s. I really appreciated watching this movie as a reminder of what our soldiers endure during training and at war. Though I kind of expected seeing and hearing the depictions of our soldiers, the last scene still gets me teary eyed just thinking about it. It is so unexpected and endearing to me, sad and proud at the same time. At the last scene the remaining soldiers of the platoon who have survived this particular battle start marching and begin to chant, “Come along and sing a song and join the jamboree, M-I-C-K-E-Y  M-O-U-S-E Mickey Mouse, Mickey Mouse, forever we will raise the banner high, high, high,high…Come along and sing a song and join the jamboree…”  My son sings this song in the car when we play his Mickey Mouse songs CD. When I heard the soldiers in the movie singing this song  I was immediately reminded of the little boys they once were to their mothers and the innocence that is left behind as they embrace manhood…and the self that is sacrificed as they embrace service.

Thank a Soldier today.

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Related articles

• Honoring Memorial Day by instilling Patriotism in our children (trainingupmyboys.wordpress.com)
• Are You Celebrating at Home This Memorial Day? (casasugar.com)
• How are you observing Memorial Day? (wallacegsmith.wordpress.com)

Tags: familiy activities, family traditions, food, Full Metal Jacket, honoring soldiers, life, Memorial Day, parade, parenting, patriotism, San Diego