Monday is Memorial Day. It’s a day we should treasure, but too often we treat it as just another excuse for a three-day sale.

It’s so much more than that.

Thousands of men and women have died protecting the rights and freedoms that make the United States the envy of the world. Some cemeteries will have special ceremonies to mark the day, but even if they don’t, you can do your part.

Visit a cemetery on your own and place a flag or flowers on the graves of the fallen heroes.

Seek out veterans to thank them for their service.

Participate in a “National Moment of Remembrance” at noon (Pacific time) and take a few moments to reflect on the true meaning of the day.

Here’s another obvious one: fly the American flag.

According to the Flag Manufacturers Association of America, the US flag should be flown at half-staff until noon.  If you can’t display the flag on a short staff or for indoor flags that can’t be lowered, tie a black bow above the full-staffed US flag.

If you can do the half-staff procedure, you should raise the flag to the top of the pole briskly, pause for a moment, and then slowly bring it down to where the top of the flag is at a position approximately halfway between the top and bottom of the pole.  At noon, the flag should be raised quickly to the top of the flag pole.  At the end of the day, the flag should be lowered slowly and ceremoniously for the day.

Memorial Day kicks off the summer, but it’s also the start of special days that honor the flag. Next up is Flag Day on June 14 and, of course, Independence Day – the Fourth of July.

But why stop there? Fly the flag every day of the year and honor our country and the people who have served it.

– Craig Groshart, Bellevue Reporter