This Memorial Day weekend, families in Contra Costa County and beyond will enjoy warm weather, backyard grilling, and maybe even a trip to the beach.
And for many teens, Memorial Day is just a day off from school. However, I encourage you to use this Memorial Day as an opportunity to ask your teen, “What do you know about this day?”
Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday of May. This day honors the members of the U.S. military who died in American wars. It is a day for us to appreciate our active military and veterans, and to pay our respects to those who died while fighting for our nation’s freedom.
Memorial Day traditions to celebrate with your teen
Aside from barbecues and parades, there are more ways to celebrate Memorial Day with your teen that ties back to the meaning of the holiday:
- Put flags or flowers on the graves of people who served in wars
- Fly the American flag at half-mast until noon
- Participate in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3pm local time
- Visit monuments dedicated to Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines.
The All Wars Memorial, located at Oak Hill Park on 3005 Stone Valley Road in Danville, is a living memorial dedicated to all who sacrificed to assure our freedom.
The Soldiers Memorial Monument, located at 2611 Contra Costa Boulevard in Pleasant Hill, stands in recognition of all who serve in the armed forces.
The Lafayette Veterans Memorial Building, located on 3780 Mt Diablo Boulevard in Lafayette, provides an emotional and historical sanctuary for former, current, and future Comrades in Arms.
Closing Thoughts
Please, let us not let Memorial Day just be another day of mattress sales and a day off from school. It deserves gravitas.
Take the time this year to teach the meaning of honor, respect, and our country’s amazing resilience. Highlight the men and women who defend the United States. Let us not allow any of our fallen soldiers and heroes to have died in vain.
And of course, this slow weekend is a great opportunity to have a candid conversation with your teen about their mental health:
How are you doing lately?
What problems are you currently dealing with?
What’s happening with your friends?
What’s going on in their inner lives?
The more you know, the sooner you’ll be able to spot an issue before it’s too late.
If you need help, please reach out to us or ask your teen’s Pediatrician for advice.
If you haven’t already, please browse and share the ABD blog. We work hard to create articles full of relevant, realistic, and actionable tips for dealing with the difficult and stressful parts of teen life.
And finally, I’d love to have you at our upcoming5TH ANNUAL GOLF TOURNAMENT on Friday, August 20th at 11:00am. It’ll be a terrific day of sun, golf, and philanthropy!If you can’t make it but would still like to support, please consider sponsoring a hole. Our sponsorship packages can be found on the ABD Golf Tournament page.
All funds will go toward our terrific cause of driving teen mental health awareness in Contra Costa County and beyond.
Reach out to me any time with questions, concerns, or for an ear: elliot@abrighterday.org or (510) 206-1103.
Elliot Kallen
President, a brighter day charity
