How to Celebrate Memorial Day & Remember Its True Meaning

Posted by: Scott Kalapos on Apr 29, 2025

Across the country, as the morning sun rises on Memorial Day, towns and cities prepare to honor those who gave everything for the freedoms we enjoy. Flags are placed with care at the graves of fallen soldiers, families gather to share memories, and communities pause to remember the cost of liberty.

Memorial Day is more than a three-day weekend marking the unofficial start of summer. It is a national holiday rooted in honoring the ultimate sacrifice made by those who died in military service to our country. It is a day rooted in reflection, gratitude, and national pride.

While many enjoy barbeques, an extra round of golf, picnics, and grilling with loved ones, it is important to remember that Memorial Day activities should begin with remembrance. You can choose to attend a local service or memorial event, or come up with your own ways to show respect and support for the memories of fallen heroes.

A Brief History of Memorial Day

Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. It began after the Civil War when communities across the country honored soldiers by decorating their graves with flowers. One of the first major observances took place in May of 1868 (opens in a new window) at Arlington National Cemetery, where more than 20,000 graves were adorned with flowers during a ceremony attended by General and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant.

What is Memorial Day? While Veterans Day honors all who served, Memorial Day is specifically dedicated to mourning U.S. military personnel who lost their lives in service. It became a federal holiday in 1971, observed annually on the last Monday in May.

It is believed that the first recorded observance of “Decoration Day” (opens in a new window) was actually in 1865 after Charleston, South Carolina fell to the Union soldiers. Freed slaves gave the fallen Union service members a proper burial and had a parade to celebrate them. The tradition of honoring the fallen continues today, from ceremonies in Washington, DC to small gatherings in towns across the USA.

Decorating Graves for Memorial Day

Celebrate Memorial Day in a Manner that Honors & Respects

Before diving into barbeques or hosting a cookout with friends and family members, consider starting Memorial Day weekend with meaningful acts of remembrance. There are many respectful ways to celebrate Memorial Day.

You can start by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the soldiers’ graves, especially in local cemeteries where veterans are laid to rest. Many towns and communities will also hold a Memorial Day parade or solemn ceremony. When you get home and are ready for the BBQ, plan to share stories of your own ancestors and family members to remind the younger generations of their legacy.

There are a few other must-dos on Memorial Day, too. At 3:00 PM local time, pause what you are doing for the National Moment of Remembrance. What is the National Moment of Remembrance? This is a designated minute to hold as a moment of silence for those who have died in military service to the United States.

In addition to the moment of silence, remember to respectfully fly the American flag at half-staff until noon, then raise it to full-staff for the remainder of the day in accordance with traditional flag protocol (opens in a new window). Memorial Day traditions, such as wearing red poppies in remembrance or learning about the history of World War I and World War II heroes, help connect us to the sacrifices that shape our nation’s story, too.

Honoring & Celebrating Memorial Day At Work

Participating thoughtfully in Memorial Day activities is a way to demonstrate gratitude, foster genuine connections with customers and employees, and honor the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we all share. Businesses have a unique opportunity to use their voice, resources, and reach to honor Memorial Day meaningfully. Here are respectful ways to get involved:

Acknowledge the Day’s Meaning in Your Communications

Make sure your team is aligned on the message you want to communicate on Memorial Day. Barbecues and picnics are fun, but we have the day off for very solemn reasons. Your marketing team needs to be on the same page for emails, social media, and your sales communications.

Some businesses choose to pause their marketing and promotional campaigns for the weekend. When you do talk about your Memorial Day sales, be respectful and consider donating a portion of the sales profits for the weekend to a nonprofit organization like the Travis Manion Foundation (opens in a new window), where “an average of 91 cents of every dollar directly to programming that empowers veterans and families of the fallen to develop character in future generations”. Or consider rallying a group for in-person volunteering.

Memorial Day Facts to Share with Your Audience

Educating your team and your followers helps deepen the meaning behind Memorial Day recognition. Share some facts about Memorial Day in your emails or as social media posts. Some facts about Memorial Day include:

Over 1.3 million American service members have died in U.S. military conflicts.
The tradition of wearing red poppies as a symbol of remembrance comes from the poem "In Flanders Fields," written during World War I.
The National Moment of Remembrance was established by Congress in 2000 to encourage all Americans to pause and reflect.
People often confuse Memorial Day and Veterans Day. The former honors those who died in military service, while the latter celebrates all who served, living or deceased.

Remembering Those Who Sacrificed on Memorial Day

Some fun facts about Memorial Day to share are:

Memorial Day is one of the busiest travel weekends of the year. Millions of Americans travel over the long weekend to visit family, attend ceremonies, or simply enjoy the start of summer.
PBS & Gary Sinise host an annual National Memorial Day Concert. Music and storytelling are broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.
The tradition of Memorial Day barbeques and cookouts grew after World War II. It was when soldiers returned that communities began celebrating together. Picnics, cookouts, and grilling became common ways to gather and remember.

Sponsor Memorial Day Events in Your Community

Partner with your chamber of commerce or the VFW in your city to sponsor a Memorial Day parade, wreath-laying ceremony, or remembrance walk. You can distribute patriotic giveaways such as American flags, remembrance pins, or red, white, and blue tote bags at events.

If your community has already planned a celebration, donate useful items to the event, like tents and signage, paper cups, water bottles, and snacks. This helps take the stress off the organizer or the community event.

Supporting in-person events allows your business to be part of your town’s living history and honor military heroes.

Create a Memorial Day Giving Campaign

A Memorial Day giving campaign shows company support and encourages others to get involved, too. Along with campaigns to donate a portion of your Memorial Day weekend proceeds to organizations, you can also collect items or create your own custom logo items for nonprofits like Operation Gratitude (opens in a new window), which sends care packages to members of the armed forces.

Invite customers to join your efforts by matching their contributions or hosting a fundraiser throughout Memorial Day weekend. Another thoughtful approach is highlighting veteran-owned businesses and promoting their stories on your social media or blog. Giving campaigns reflect your brand's values and strengthen community connections, while you honor the legacy of those who served.

Memorial Day Promotional Products That Help You Celebrate Respectfully

Put some thought into purchasing patriotic promotional products for the weekend or week leading up to Memorial Day. Custom American flags are among the most popular choices, whether for handing out at a Memorial Day parade or displaying in offices and stores. Other patriotic promotional items you can hand out include:

Remembrance Pins & Buttons

Remembrance pins and buttons are a small but powerful way for individuals to visibly honor fallen service members during Memorial Day ceremonies and events. They are easy to distribute at parades, services, and community gatherings, helping to create a unified tribute across your audience.

Patriotic Custom Stickers

Patriotic custom stickers featuring American flag designs, red poppies, or remembrance messages are meaningful and low-cost giveaways. You can design your own custom stickers in all shapes and colors. Custom stickers are fun for kids, and while you’re browsing stickers, custom American flag temporary tattoos are also a fun giveaway to get a younger audience interested in the holiday.

American Flag-themed Apparel & Hats

T-shirts, caps, and even sunglasses give employees & clients a way to show unity & patriotism throughout the weekend. You can go with red, white, and blue colors or star-spangled designs. Wearing patriotic apparel shows your appreciation for the freedom you enjoy. Your hats can be embroidered with your logo or a flag design.

USA-themed Merchandise

At 4AllPromos, we carry tote bags, drawstring backpacks, stress balls, and more featuring patriotic and USA-themed colors, stars, and stripes. We also proudly carry a wide selection of Made in the USA promotional products. Your business will connect with the community with fun USA-themed merch that attendees can use beyond Memorial Day. Your promotional items not only boost the spirit during parades and ceremonies but can be used at picnics and BBQs too.

Close for Memorial Day

Because it is a national holiday, federal offices, the New York Stock Exchange, banks, and the U.S. Postal Service are all required to close for Memorial Day. If your business model allows, consider closing for Memorial Day as a sign of respect for the fallen. Taking the day also gives your employees, customers, and community members the opportunity to fully engage in remembrance activities and spend time with family members.

If you decide to close, communicate this in advance through your website, social media, and storefront signage. Frame the closure around gratitude and respect, emphasizing those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Even in industries where full closure is not feasible, adjusting hours or hosting a company-wide moment of silence at local time can show your dedication to the true meaning of Memorial Day.

Honor the Day, Share the Message

Memorial Day gives you the opportunity to stand for your community, country, and the values that define the American spirit. Participating thoughtfully in Memorial Day activities is a way to demonstrate gratitude, foster genuine connections with customers and employees, and honor the service members who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we all share.

Many customers actively seek out brands that reflect their own values. By taking time to acknowledge Memorial Day's true meaning, businesses can build trust and create a positive, lasting impression. Whether through sponsorships, charitable giving, or respectful gestures of remembrance, companies of all sizes can use their voice to unite, uplift, and honor the day with sincerity.