By: Lei Anna Craig

Memorial Day became an official holiday on May 30th in 1868 after the Civil War. It was made to honor those who gave their lives fighting for their country and was intended for those still living to pay tribute by decorating their gravesites.

It wasn’t until much later did they realize that this should be for the fallen soldiers from all the American wars, and in 1971 Congress made it a national holiday; making the last Monday in May the official day for Memorial Day.

But how can we celebrate Memorial Day? There are a lot of things that we can do around Buffalo to honor and express our gratitude for all the men and women who gave their lives for us and our country.

Forest Lawn Cemetery 

A simple but one of the most effective ways to honor our fallen soldiers would be to bring flowers to their gravesites. Decorating their resting place displays our gratitude for their services and efforts, and all that they’ve done will never be forgotten. Buffalo often holds ceremonies in the morning of Memorial Day at Forest Lawn that is open to the public and welcomed for everyone to join!

Memorial Day Parade 

The Memorial Day parade in Buffalo is a big deal and isn’t something that you would want to miss out on. It occurs every year and is one of the largest parades in Western New York, starting on Delaware Avenue and ending on Elmwood Avenue. Join in to take part in the festivities and celebrate the lives of those who fought for us.

The Red Poppy Flower 

The Red Poppy flower symbolizes the lives lost, and has been the symbol since World War I. So many will wear red poppy pins or lay out the flower on this day as a tribute to the men and women who gave their lives on the battlefield. So, expect to see a sea of red poppies making their way through the crowds!

Veteran Organizations 

Although Memorial Day is to honor those who have fallen, it is still important to celebrate our veterans as well. Many have faced hardships that were difficult to bounce back from and faced difficulties like PTSD as well as other forms of trauma, as they have lost those close to them on the battlefield and seen things that are indescribable. In honor of Memorial Day, we can do our part in helping them by volunteering at organizations such as: WNY Heroes Inc, Veterans OneStop center, American Veterans, and many more. There are many ways to honor those who have fallen, even if it’s just a moment of silence for remembrance. We hope this helps and you can take the time out this year to honor those who served us this Memorial Day!