MEMORIAL DAY
#MemorialDay Each year in the United States, Americans observe the Federal holiday, Memorial Day, the last Monday in May. It honors and remembers all men and women who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Memorial Day is also a day to remember all loved ones who have passed away. Traditionally on Memorial Day, the flag of the United States of America is raised briskly to the top of the staff then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position where it remains until noon. At noon, it is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day. When the flag is at half-staff, the position is in remembrance of the more than one million men and women who gave their lives for their country. Raising the flag at noon signifies the nation lives, that the country is resolved not to let their sacrifice be in vain but to rise up in their honor and continue to fight for liberty and justice for all.
In the United States, Memorial Day also traditionally marks the beginning of summer.
Definitively one of our favorite days!!!
NATIONAL SCAVENGER HUNT DAY #ScavengerHuntDay National Scavenger Hunt Day on May 24th each year sends us off to find random items all in the name of good fun. American gossip columnist, author, songwriter, and professional hostess Elsa Maxwell (May 24, 1883 – November 1, 1963) is credited with the introduction of the scavenger hunt for use as a party game in the modern era. The game challenges teams to scavenge for a list of odd items. As part of the rules, participants are not allowed to buy the objects. Depending on where the hunt takes place, players may have to beg, barter, or even work for them, too. Some scavenger hunts add difficulty to the game by adding riddles describing each item. The team with the most items, or the first to complete the list, wins.
NATIONAL BUY A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT DAY
#BuyAMusicalInstrumentDay Each year on May 22nd we observe National Buy a Musical Instrument Day. The day is all about playing music. If you are a musician, it might be time for a new instrument. Maybe you can learn to play a second or third one. If you have never played an instrument before, this celebration may be the motivation you need. Wander into any music shop and the person behind the counter will be passionate about the instruments. It will not matter if the instrument is brass, strung, percussion, or a woodwind. Their enthusiasm for any patron’s interest in music will show. And no matter your age, a musical instrument will bring joy to your life. String together a few notes on a keyboard or take some music lessons. Add a new instrument to your repertoire. National Buy A Musical Instrument Day also reminds you that playing music comes with huge benefits.
*Playing music boosts brain function and improves math skills.
*It’s a social activity that also teaches discipline, teamwork, how to take criticism (and compliments), while building confidence, too!
*Regularly playing a musical instrument is a great cardio workout for the lungs and can improve your posture. Many musicians turn to music for relaxation.
Make it a family affair, too. Grandpa can play his ukelele while the grandkids play the drums, trombone, and flute. Together they can all make terrific music!
INTERNATIONAL MUSEUM DAY
#InternationalMuseumDay Every year on May 18th, International Museum Day provides an opportunity for museum professionals to alert the general public about the importance of museums and the challenges they face. Museums help to preserve the world’s culture and history. Their role of collecting objects and materials of cultural and historical importance helps us to better understand our heritage. Museums also help to provide an all-important link to the past. Despite their importance, some museums are on their way to becoming a thing of the past. This is due to the declining number of museum visitors. This is especially true of art and culture museums. In the United States, many museums have suffered financially since the Great Recession in 2008. Due to financial problems, some museums had to close completely. To prevent this from happening, it’s more important than ever to support them.
Some museums, especially some of the more famous ones, continue to do well. The most visited museum in the world is the Louvre. In just one year, 10.2 million people visited this museum. Other museums with millions of visitors a year include: National Museum of China The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC Vatican Museums in Vatican City National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. British Museum in London It may surprise you to know that the country with the highest number of museums per capita in the world is Israel. Other countries with a lot of museums include China, the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany.
NATIONAL LOVE A TREE DAY
#LoveATreeDay On May 16th each year, National Love a Tree Day celebrates the joys of life provided by trees. Reading in the shade or taking a bite out of a fresh fruit pie are but two examples. Of course, planting trees for future generations to love is beneficial too. Most species of trees tend to be long-lived. Some trees live to be several thousand years old. According to the U.S. Forest Service, about 766 million acres of forest land exists in the United States. This number has held steady since 2012. Between 1630 and 1910, there was a steady decline from 1,023 million acres to 754 million acres. That’s a decline from 46 percent to 34 percent of the total land area of the United States. How trees are utilized and managed has changed in the last 400 years. Where people live and how we farm has also changed. While some urban forests increase, other areas see a decline. Tree planting programs improve landscapes but human activities and population growth continue to impact ecosystems. The tallest known tree is 379 ft. tall.
Trees provide more than just beautiful landscapes and a shady canopy on a sunny day. They play a significant role in reducing erosion and moderating the climate as well as give us oxygen. Large quantities of carbon are stored in their tissues as trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They provide habitat and structure for strong ecosystems.
PEACE OFFICERS MEMORIAL DAY
#PeaceOfficersMemorialDay Every May 15th Peace Officers Memorial Day pays tribute to local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice or been injured in the line of duty. The observance takes place during Police Week. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, more than 800,000 law enforcement officers serve in the United States today. Each year, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial adds new names to the wall. The average is 163 deaths per year. Fallen law enforcement officers represent all levels of law enforcement, including local, state, federal, tribal, and military law enforcement. They are family members, husbands, wives, parents, sons, and daughters. The day honors fallen LEO across the nation and offers support to their surviving family members and officers.
