As the scent of summer begins to fill the air and families gather for parades, picnics, and long weekends, Memorial Day gently arrives, not just as a day off from school, but as a quiet, powerful moment in our calendar.
It’s a day to remember. A day to pause. A day to teach our children what it truly means to live in a free country and the deep, quiet cost of that freedom.
Why We Remember
Memorial Day began after the Civil War, when communities gathered to decorate the graves of soldiers who never came home. Over time, it became a national day of remembrance set aside for honoring the men and women who gave everything in service to our country.
And while it may feel far away from a child’s world of swings and storybooks, this day holds lessons that can shape their hearts for a lifetime.
Why It’s So Important to Teach Children
Children are naturally compassionate. They care deeply, ask thoughtful questions, and want to understand the world around them. Memorial Day gives us a sacred opportunity to gently show them the meaning of sacrifice, gratitude, and service.
By teaching our children about those who died protecting our freedoms, we’re planting seeds of:
Gratitude for the liberties we often take for granted.
Compassion for those who carry the weight of loss.
Respect for those who serve, and those who gave all.
These are values that grow with them, from quiet moments of reflection to the way they treat others, and even how they see their place in the world.
Freedom Is Not Free.
This simple phrase is a powerful one to share with children. It means that every freedom we enjoy, the ability to play, speak freely, go to school, worship, and live safely, was protected by someone brave enough to serve. And some of those heroes never made it back home.
When we help children understand this truth, even in small, age-appropriate ways, we’re helping to shape citizens who care, who remember, who honor, and who understand the value of peace.
