Every year at school we have a Memorial Day Remembrance.  It’s important for children, well…for everybody.  Making it meaningful for young children is not easy, but Retired Master Sergeant Michael Kennedy does a remarkable job.

He asks children, “Who likes decorations?”  Of course all hands go up.  Then he tells children how Memorial Day used to be Decoration Day, and poppies were used to decorate the graves and markers of fallen soldiers.  He talks about serving our country and thanking veterans.

The Aqua Roomers held the American flag and sang “God Bless America.”  The kindergarteners sang “God Bless the USA”, aka “Proud to Be an American.”  Wonderful doesn’t even come close.

Then Michael helped children plant flags in our Memory Garden.

A special guest played taps, and a veteran jumped up and saluted.  It was a moment I’ll never forget.

That afternoon I showed children Peter Spier’s book, The Star-Spangled Banner.  

We spent time looking at the page with graves and poppies.  There were lots of questions.  That was a good thing.

Never forget.  Thank a veteran.

Jennie