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Memorial Day
by W.Holidays
 Memorial
Day is a secular holiday that was created to honor and pay respect for
fallen soldiers. It is a day to visit the gravesites of loved ones and
ancestors and place flowers by their headstones. Flags are flown at
half-staff until noon and small flags are placed by the graves.
Memorial Day was first known as Decoration Day. Both the North and
South had been putting flowers on the graves of loved ones who perished
in the American Civil War. The casualties of this war were high,
498,332 lives. On May 5, 1868 General John Logan, Commander-in-Chief of
Grand Army of the Republic issued General Order No. 11, which
officially proclaimed Decoration Day. It was first observed on May 30,
1868. However, the South decided to honor their dead on a different day
up until World War I. In 1882, the named was changed to Memorial Day
and in 1971 the day was declared a national holiday.
Memorial Day falls on the last Monday of the month. Many people
take advantage of this three-day weekend and travel to beaches, lakes,
or up to the mountains with their families. Parades, barbecues, and
picnics are traditional as well. Memorial Day is considered the
unofficial start of summer.
Crafts for Memorial Day
Poppy Pin
skill level: easiest
cost: under
$5
craft time: 5-20 minutes
red and black felt
black
pom-pom
jewelry back pin
click here to get the pattern
Cut out 2 of the poppy shapes in red felt.
Glue the 2
shapes together in the center with the shape shifted slightly. This way they
look like petals.
Glue the pom-pom in the center.
Glue the pin to the back
of the poppy.
Poppy Sponge Art
skill level: easiest
cost: under
$5
craft time: 5-20 minutes
black construction paper
sponge cut
into flower shape (pattern below)
sponge cut into a circle (pattern
below)
red-orange paint
black paint
click here to get the
pattern
Dip flower-shaped sponge
into red-orange paint and press lightly onto the black construction
paper.
Next, use the circle sponge and press on on a black
center.
Continue making more poppies.
Cookies for Memorial Day
Poppy-Shaped Sugar
Cookies
These are poppy shaped
sugar cookies with bright colorful icings.
cookies
1 cup
granulated sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 teaspoon
vanilla
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 egg
2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
icing
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons milk
2
teaspoons light corn syrup
1/4 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
red
and black (or brown) food coloring
Preheat oven to 375°F.
Beat sugar,
butter, vanilla, nutmeg and egg in until
smooth.
Gradually stir in flour.
Shape dough by teaspoonfuls into balls
and place on an ungreased baking sheet 2 inches apart.
Gently flatten dough.
(Cookie should be about 1/4-inch thick.)
Bake 8-10 minutes, or until edges
are just golden brown.
Cool cookies on baking sheet 1 minute, then remove to
wire rack.
Cool and decorate. Store in airtight container up to one week.
Make the icing:
Whisk the powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Whisk in
corn syrup and extract until icing is smooth and glossy.
If icing is too
thick, add more corn syrup.
Divide into separate bowls, and add food
colorings to each to desired intensity, red and black (or dark brown).
Paint
cookies red with black centers.
modified
April 23, 2008 |
