Memorial Day – Remembering those before
This weekend in the US is Memorial Day weekend. Many people get excited about Memorial Day weekend because it means a 3-day weekend with no work on Monday and signifies the start of the summer season.
Of course, it’s also a time where many families spend more time together and we applaud that!
Memorial Day originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the fallen Union soldiers of the Civil War and is observed on the last Monday of May. By the 20th century Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died in all wars. Our hats are off to those brave men and women who serve their country so valiantly.
Personal Memorial
On Memorial Day, I also like to honor those in my family who have gone before. Last weekend our family visited the cemetery where my father is buried to place flowers on his grave site. It gives me great time to reflect and rekindle my perspective.
My father died at age 30 when I was just 3 years old. My mother did a great job raising 3 kids on her own – a struggle that I can appreciate more each year. And one thing she instilled in us was a great respect for our father even though we didn’t have the chance to know him well.
While I could sit and lament not having a father to look up to and learn from while growing up, instead I would think about the time when I would become a father myself. Without a role model in the home, I could create in my mind what a great father he would be if he were there. And that’s the father I’d want to become.
So when I think of my father on Memorial Day, it reminds me of the commitment I made to myself while young of being the best father I could be. And it gives me a chance to assess where I’m at on that journey.
My father’s early death also reminds me that we never know how long we’ll have in this life. I’m sure he had grand hopes and dreams of raising a family as well. But his life was cut short. The best we can do is make the most of the time we have. Cherish your family every day.
Board Games for Memorial Day
And as you know, one of the ways we’ve found to enjoy time together is through board games. So I’d be remiss if I didn’t list a couple good family board games to play this Memorial Day weekend.
Memoir ’44 – This is the top of my list for so many reasons. Since getting Memoir ’44 last year I have become addicted to it. It is a fabulous game with a lot of replay to it. I’ve introduced it to as many people as I can and still can’t get enough. Earlier this year I picked up the Pacific Theater expansion for it and know that I’ll be getting more in time. But not only do I love playing the game, it has also sparked an interest in me for learning more about WWII.
Over the last year, I’ve read a number of books about WWII and I’ve been amazed at incredible stories of the brave men and women embroiled in the war. I know WWII was covered in my school history classes, but the importance of it never really sunk in. But this last year, since getting Memoir ’44 and what that has spawned, my appreciation has grown immensely.
Watch Jaden’s video review, or check out our full Memoir ’44 review here.
BattleCry– This is at the top of my wish list. The mode of play is similar to Memoir ’44 so it would be very easy to pick up and play. The difference is that BattleCry is centered on battles of the US Civil War. And since Memorial Day was established to commemorate the fallen warriors of the Civil War, I can’t think of something more appropriate.
We don’t have a lot of experience with war games, but we can tell you there are a gazillion to choose from. And there are some very dedicated gamers with a passion for war games. So if you’re looking for a longer list of War Games to chose from, we’d recommend you check out the long list of war board games on BoardGameGeek.
However you spend Memorial Day weekend, we hope you’re able to spend good quality time with your family and appreciate the beauty of being together.
