Memorial Day 2011 - Meaning of, Activities For Kids, When Is Parade, Sales Weekend, Recipes

May 30 Memorial Day Weekend 2011, for some, is the perfect time for friends and family to honor loved ones who have served their country. For others, the national holiday is the unofficial start of summer and the time to pull out neglected Memorial Day recipes.

When is Memorial Day? The holiday occurs on the last Monday of May. Whether you want to honor a fallen comrade or celebrate peace, Memorial Day Weekend is a time for remembrance and thanksgiving.

Pay Homage to Fallen Comrades on Memorial Day 2011

If you live in the Washington DC area, you can check out some of the country's best memorial services. According to About.com, popular Memorial Day destinations include cemeteries, monuments, statues and the following locations:

• Arlington National Cemetery – Arlington honors more fallen service members than any other burial ground in the United States. During the Flags-in Ceremony, members of the Third U.S. Infantry place flags at every service member's gravestone. You can also pay tribute to individuals without a grave by visiting the Tomb of the Unknown.

• Iwo Jima Memorial – Located near Arlington on Marshall Drive, this memorial pays tribute to the United States Marine Corp. While the memorial honors Marines who died in the historic World War II battle, the site is the perfect place to visit to remember lost loved ones who served in the Marines.

• The World War II Memorial – Honoring service members who served in World War II, this monument is open 24 hours a day. You'll find it at 17th Street, which is between Independence Avenue and Constitute Avenue.

If you don't live close to a memorial, consider making your own tribute with a Memorial Day garden based on an idea from Perry's Perennials. Select plants that remind you of the loved one and consider purchasing a plaque to display somewhere in the garden.

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Rekindle Joy with Memorial Day Activities

Memorial Day is not just a time for grief; it is a time to celebrate peace and sacrifice. Here are some popular activities you might enjoy. Disney World Vacation And Savings Travel Guide.

• Watch a local parade. Most towns and cities that host parades will post a Memorial Day parade schedule so you will know the route for the participants, as well as the time.

• Attend a festival. Some places host weekend-long events to celebrate the national holiday. Whether you live close to a local festival or you want to plan a Memorial Day Weekend getaway, you're sure to find some place to celebrate. Enjoy crawfish festivals in Texas, wine tasting tours in Washington or jazz festivals in Atlanta. 

• Enjoy shopping therapy with Memorial Day Sales, like those at E-deals Info. Many businesses take advantage of national holidays to hold special sales. Some companies offer higher discounts to service members, while others offer discounts to all shoppers.

Come up with Memorial Day activities for kids. You can have your kids interview local veterans decked out in uniform and create a scrapbook to highlight memories from the day. Have your little ones step into paint and then make butterfly prints by stepping onto paper with their feet in a V shape.  Fly Cheap! Airfare Secrets Revealed! 

Kick Off Summer with Memorial Day Recipes

Memorial Day can be a great time of year to host the first barbeque of the summer. Reminisce about loved ones while you enjoy your favorite Memorial Day recipes. If you're looking for quick and easy ideas, consider the following options:

• Smoke fresh corn on the cob. Place corn wrapped in husks inside an ice chest with ice. Pour a can of beer over the corn and close the cooler. Let the corn marinate for at least eight hours. Set the smoker to 250 degrees F and cook the corn in the husks for one to two hours. Rotate the corn every 20 minutes until the kernels give under pressure.

• Make a barbeque glaze to coat any type of meat. With only four ingredients, this dish is perfect for no-fuss cooks. Combine 4 tablespoons of ketchup, 4 tablespoons of English mustard, 5 tablespoons of white vinegar and 16 tablespoons of brown sugar in a saucepan. Simmer the ingredients until the sugar dissolves.

• Enjoy blueberry or rhubarb pie with homemade vanilla ice cream. If you're running short on time, buy the pie from one of your favorite restaurants and use an ice cream freezer for your container. For a quick recipe, combine 4 cups half-and-half, one 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk and 2 tablespoons of vanilla extract to the container. Freeze according to the freezer's directions.

• Incorporate holiday traditions into your event. Your Memorial Day menu may depend on the flavors and dishes you enjoyed as a child. Some regions prefer red-hot nachos or clam chowder to barbeque foods. Make grilled steaks, basil shrimp or chicken skewers. Grill a variety of fresh vegetables to make the meal healthier and to add color to the menu. You can always find more Memorial Day recipes online.

Whether you celebrate to remember or to look forward, you can find or create the type of Memorial Day activities you want to celebrate. No matter where you are, take the time to be thankful for freedom. Click on the following link for more info about national holidays.


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