Monday, May 26 is Memorial Day 2025. It is a national holiday, originally known as Decoration Day, set aside to honor the men and women who lost their lives serving in the US military.
Observation of the holiday comes in many forms, from family celebrations and barbecues to more somber recognition, such as placing American flags at the graves of fallen military members. In appreciation for the service and dedication of all of our military members, SJC Marketing is offering some ideas for how to honor Memorial Day:
Organize a Care Package Party for Deployed Troops. Invite friends and family to bring a designated number of the same item, such as nonperishable snacks, small games or personal hygiene items. Group your party guests into teams to creatively decorate the inside of each care package box and then fill the boxes. Include notes of appreciation and small gifts. You might consider asking party guests to make a small donation for shipping, as well, depending on how many boxes you end up sending!
Not sure how to get started? Organizations like Operation Gratitude make it easy to send a care package.
Send a Letter to the Family of a Fallen Soldier. Taking a moment to send a heartfelt note of gratitude to a family who has recently lost a member in the military is a special way to celebrate Memorial Day. If you would like to include a gift, consider a gift card to a restaurant or a grocery store to help with some of the stress and grief of losing a loved one.
Make a Donation. If you would like to offer a gift to a veteran or an active military member, there are many ways to do it. Give a gift to the USO or an organization such as Homes for Our Troops, which assists injured veterans in establishing a home.
Visit a Museum. While many may not be open on Memorial Day, you can increase your awareness of the sacrifice made for freedom by visiting a nearby history museum in the week before or after the holiday. Make it a family outing and pair it with watching a documentary or film about the Revolution or one of the subsequent wars that resulted in the loss of many lives in the preservation of liberty.
You can also increase awareness around Memorial Day with simple steps like flying an American flag outside your home or decorating your sidewalk with patriotic symbols. Organize a mini neighborhood bike parade and invite kids to decorate their bikes with red, white and blue.
At SJC Marketing, we would like to thank our active military and veterans for the sacrifices they make every day for our safety and freedom. And thank you to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Happy Memorial Day.