Memorial Day is a time when we remember those who have fallen in service to our country, and can be an especially momentous time for senior veterans. It’s crucial to help them observe the holiday in a manner that is meaningful to them.
Many seniors may have lost a parent, sibling, friend, classmate or even a child in the line of duty. For them, it’s a time for reflection, gratitude and an opportunity to take the time to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for us.
“It’s important to remember that Memorial Day is specifically meant to honor Veterans who have died, especially those who died while in military service,” says Dr. Julie Strassman, Bethesda Hospice Care Manager of Support Services. “This is different from Veterans Day, which honors all who have served in the Armed Forces.”
Dr. Strassman details the following ways to observe Memorial Day with senior veterans or your senior loved one:
1. Enjoy a parade
Many area communities will host a Memorial Day parade. Grab a portable chair and a cooler with a couple of cool drinks to set up along the route and watch the participants march by with your senior loved one. Check out this list of local St. Louis area parades and ceremonies appropriate for the whole family.
2. Bring flowers
Take them to the grave of a loved one to decorate it with flowers, a flag or a commemorative wreath.
3. Talk about it
Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone who may be missing friends or loved ones is to listen as they share stories. Listening to your senior loved one speak about life during wartime or asking them to share their favorite memories of fellow comrades, family members or friends who died in the line of duty may really aid their observance – and yours.
4. Safe at home
If your senior loved one isn’t up to a trip across town, bring the observation to them. Go to their residence to watch a Memorial Day ceremony on television. One option is the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS, beginning at 7 pm CST, live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The event is a 30-year tradition which honors servicemen and women by performing uplifting musical numbers and sharing inspiring, real-life stories and moving tributes. Instead of decorating the grave of a fallen family member, light a candle in their memory. You can also honor those who have fallen by recognizing a moment of silence. Bring your senior friend or family member a poppy flower, a symbol of remembrance, to pin to their lapel.
5. Dress it up
Put together a patriotic outfit of red, white, and blue for your senior loved one. If they served in the military, make sure they have an outfit that signifies their branch of service or their veteran status. While Memorial Day is for those who have been lost, it can help veterans feel close to their lost comrades to honor their time serving together.
6. Fly the flag
Help your senior loved one observe Memorial Day by having your own flag ceremony. Remember, it’s traditional to fly the American flag at half-staff until noon in remembrance of those who died while defending their country and then to raise it up to full height the rest of the day in recognition of the fact that our country remains because of them and their heroic efforts.
Making the Day Meaningful
The options are practically limitless when honoring senior veterans. But it’s important to share the planning process with our senior loved ones to ensure that their emotional needs are met on the occasion. Present them with some options but ask them what their priorities are and how you can help them have a meaningful Memorial Day.
While Memorial Day is a solemn occasion, that doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be a sad day. It can be emotionally uplifting for our senior loved ones to know people who are important to them haven’t been forgotten. It’s also a great time to get together with friends and family, something essential to keeping them from feeling isolated, lonely, and depressed. The long holiday weekend is a terrific opportunity for a family gathering to remind our seniors that they are important and loved.
No matter how you arrange for your senior loved one to observe the Memorial Day holiday, the most important thing is to spend the occasion together.
Explore more ideas for honoring our veterans and read their stories on Bethesda’s Veterans blog!
