Doing Memorial Day Right

We all know (or should know) that Memorial Day is more than just the unofficial start of summer, or a day off from work to fire up the grill. It’s a day to honor and mourn military personnel who died performing their military duties while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

It’s a pretty somber holiday, really. But it’s also become a time for family gatherings and a celebration of togetherness. A lot of us have lost loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic, so being with family will have a special meaning for most of us, especially considering quarantines. Here are our recommendations for making the most out of your Memorial Day weekend:

1. If your family lives farther away, flying GA could be just the thing to get you there without all the traffic.


2. What fun outdoor games can you toss in your car or aircraft to play with your family to bring everyone together (or drive them apart)? Almost too many to list, but here are some of our faves in random order:

   Kickball
   Ladder ball
   Cornhole
   Horseshoes
   Bocce ball
   Water balloons (or garden hose for those who really want to win)
   Slip ‘N Slide (or giant tarp ‘n slide for those who are more daring)

3. There’s no family gathering without good food! Burgers, hot dogs, potato salad, green bean casserole (there’s always at least one, right?), some kind of weird side dish that would be great if that one relative would stop messing with it, and all the Dr Pepper you can drink.

   To get you started, here’s my great-grandmother Fanny Kiziah Cooley’s recipe for potato salad, so you know it has to be good! At least my family thinks so.

   Potato Salad
   4 eggs
   A little less than ½ c vinegar
   1 c sugar
   4 tsp salt
   1 c milk
   4 tsp dry mustard
   5 tbsp butter
   Pepper to taste

   Put all the ingredients in a pan. Heat slowly, stirring constantly until it comes to a boil and thickens.

   Recipe can be altered depending on the amount of potatoes you use (what you see here is 4 times the original recipe).

   Everyone makes potato salad differently, but my mom has always used potatoes (boiled, not raw of course), hard boiled eggs, onions, and celery seed. Then dump the dressing over the potatoes, stir, and serve.

4. And last, but certainly not least, you can honor veterans this Memorial Day. Chances are, there’s a cemetery or memorial near you. Stop by and see what you can do to help. Many organizations volunteer to maintain the grounds, lay wreaths, or place flags. At the very least, take a moment to remember those who gave their lives for our nation. And hug your family!