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Memorial Day 2011: How To Honor Soldiers

How To Honor Fallen Soldiers This Memorial Day
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As many of us excitedly look forward to gathering with friends and family and enjoying the long weekend, it's easy to lose sight of the significance of Memorial Day.

But for military families across the U.S., especially those of the estimated 5,885 American soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan in the last 10 years of war, it's a day to remember and honor those who have given their lives for our country.

For anyone in need of a refresher, Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Civil War soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery to honor their sacrifices. In 1971, federal law changed the observance of the holiday to the last Monday in May and extended it to honor all who had died in American wars.

Today, many cities celebrate Memorial Day with parades, speeches and the decoration of graves. At Arlington National Cemetery, an American flag is placed on each grave, and it's tradition for the president or vice president to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

As you make preparations for your weekend barbecues or camping trips, consider how you can do something for the soldiers who have done so much for our country -- whether by honoring a fallen soldier, supporting a military family or brightening the day of one currently serving.

Nine Ways To Honor Soldiers On Memorial Day
Observe the National Moment of Remembrance(01 of09)
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Honor fallen soldiers on Memorial Day by observing the National Moment of Remembrance. The National Moment of Remembrance, endorsed by President Clinton in 2000, takes place every Memorial Day at 3:00 p.m. local time. At that time, all Americans are urged to observe a moment of silence or to listen to "Taps," in tribute to those who died for our country.
Prompted by a group of school children who didn't understand that the holiday had significance beyond being a day off from school, the moment of remembrance is intended to remind Americans of the true meaning of the holiday and "unite the nation in acknowledging the contributions made by the men and women who gave their lives for our country's freedom." (credit:AP)
Donate a Phone to Cell Phones for Soldiers(02 of09)
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Founded in 2004 by Robbie and Brittany Bergquist, then 12 and 13 years old, Cell Phones for Soldiers, Inc. is a nonprofit that collects donated cell phones, recycles them and uses the proceeds to purchase prepaid phone cards for troops overseas. They've collected more than 7.5 million cell phones and provided troops with over 90 million minutes of free talk time to keep in touch with their families. Donate a cell phone, locate a drop-off point or consider becoming an official phone collector. (credit:AP)
Join a Wounded Warrior Project Soldier Ride(03 of09)
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Soldier Ride is a Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) initiative that helps wounded warriors restore their physical and emotional well-being through cycling. Originally a program to provide comfort items to wounded service members, WWP has grown into a rehabilitative effort that has assisted thousands of warriors and their caregivers in the transition back to civilian life. The Soldier Ride raises funds for WWP programs, and provides free equipment and assistance to participating injured service members.
Non-service members can also participate by riding alongside the warriors; anyone wanting to get involved can find a ride, become a Community Outreach Leader or volunteer. (credit:AP)
Salute the Troops With Lowe's(04 of09)
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Lowe's Companies, Inc., which has teamed up with PepsiCo to donate $1 million to help support troops as part of their Summer Salute program, encourages customers to send in their military salutes, thank yous and photos to be posted on their site. Military friends and families, the public and Nascar stars like Jeff Gordon and Dale Earnhardt have posted memories and tributes to soldiers overseas -- like Nathan, 14, who writes, "My brother just signed up for the Marines and I am very proud of him. I will miss him and think about him every time I hear the national anthem at Panther's games."
Support Operation Homefront(05 of09)
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Operation Homefront is a nonprofit that provides emergency financial assistance to service members and their families -- in the form of "checks paid directly to mortgage lenders, auto mechanics, contractors, hospitals, doctors, dentists and other providers." In 2010, Operation Homefront met 167,348 needs for military families, and it has provided more than $92 million dollars of funding to programs to benefit military families since its inception.
The organization's current needs page lists requests from military families in need of assistance, such as the spouse of an Army National Guard service member who needs help paying for dental care for their children, and a soldier and his family in need of a donated refrigerator and clothes dryer after they lost theirs in a break-in. (credit:AP)
Buy an MLB Stars & Stripes Cap(06 of09)
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For the fourth year in a row, Major League Baseball (MLB) is selling its Stars & Stripes caps, which will be worn by all clubs on Memorial Day and Independence Day weekends. In addition to showing the country's support for U.S. military members, the caps are part of MLB's national fundraising initiatives for Welcome Back Veterans; all net proceeds from the sales of the caps go to the program.
Welcome Back Veterans addresses the needs of returning American veterans and their families, including mental health needs and job training/placement. Since 2008, it has awarded more than $10 million in grants to 30 nonprofit agencies addressing veterans' needs across the country. (credit:AP)
Run or Walk for Homeless Vets(07 of09)
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Join the Department of Veterans Affairs in spotlighting the plight of homeless veterans in their nationwide Walk and Roll event on June 2. About 130 VA facilities around the country will participate in the 2k walk or run. Registration is free, but donations are welcome -- they'll go toward supporting homeless veterans. Find your local facility or email AskVHAEmployeewellness@va.gov for more information about participating or volunteering. (credit:AP)
Wear a Red Poppy Made by a Veteran(08 of09)
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The story goes that a young woman, Moina Michael, read Dr. John McCrae's poem, "In Flander's Field" -- describing what he saw on the deserted battlefields of Flanders in World War I -- and pledged to always to wear a red poppy as a sign of remembrance for those who died. She became known as the "Poppy Lady" and the flower became a symbol of remembrance for the lives lost in war. She lobbied the American Legion to have disabled veterans assemble poppies, and the bright red crepe paper flowers continue to be hand made by veterans and distributed on Memorial Day each year, in exchange for donations that assist disabled and hospitalized veterans.
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) also distributes poppies each year, and has been since before Memorial Day in 1922. VFW "Buddy Poppies" are assembled by financially disadvantaged and disabled veterans who are paid for their work. (credit:AP)
Decorate a Soldier's Grave(09 of09)
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Take those poppies -- or other flowers or flags -- and decorate the graves of fallen soldiers in your town. During the first celebration of Decoration Day, 5,000 participants at Arlington National Cemetery decorated the graves of the more than 20,000 Union and Confederate soldiers buried there. Even if you don't live in Washington D.C., chances are someone in your community has been affected by the loss of a loved one overseas -- show your support by adorning a grave. (credit:AP)

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