To celebrate Memorial Day in your community, organize a story time and craft that honors those who sacrificed in the name of honor and duty. This respectful and somber treatment of the holiday is sure to show honor and respect to our nation’s soldiers so that they are always remembered and never forgotten.

Memorial Day Book

Read aloud a few passages about Memorial Day from a respectfully illustrated kids book like Memorial Day by Trudi Strain Trueit. After your read aloud story time and discussion you can honor the day with some fun and meaningful crafts.

Memorial Day Crafts

Thank You Cards for Veterans

Image source: Project Nursery

As part of your craft activities, consider organizing a card-making activity for veterans living in your local community. Here are some printable cards with simple instructions.

You can find more ideas for Memorial Day veteran’s thank you cards like this cute thank you card in the form of dog-tags.

After the cards are made and decorated, children can keep them to give to the veterans they know. Encourage children to decorate extras, then collect all the cards and drop them off to veterans. The locations you choose can include a local veterans group, a local assisted living facility, retirement community, or your nearest VA hospital.

Encourage the staff at such facilities to share and distribute the cards with the most deserving members of their community (or the patients in most need of some cheering up!)

Patriotic Sun-catcher

Image source: A Little Pinch of Perfect

This patriotic sun-catcher will look great hanging in windows all across your community. It's also simple, inexpensive, and easy for small hands (and parents) to do.

This simple Memorial Day craft only requires a few materials:

• Construction paper or colored cardstock
• Clear contact paper
• Tissue paper
• Star confetti or star punch and white printer paper
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Exact-o knife or scissors

Click here for full craft instructions.

If you're looking for more hand-on activities, check out these additional red, white, and blue craft ideas.

Memorial Day Munchies

Image source: Pinterest

Looking for some simple snacks to include at your event, here is a patriotic cheese and cracker snack tray lay-out that is sure to impress!