Flag Day Contests

Know how and where to hang your flag, as well as how to maintain it.

22. Support local businesses.

Get a takeout or a gift card for a military family from a local eatery.

23. Donate to the USO.

Whether you donate cash directly or get items for their wishbook, supporting the USO is a great way to send love to the troops. 24. Adopt a soldier.

Adopt a soldier! Ladies of Liberty, a sub-division of Soldiers Angels, supports female troops overseas with care packages designed specifically for their unique needs, or you can adopt any soldier through the main program.

25. Make double of your usual Memorial Day goodies and deliver it to a military family in your community.

Whether it’s from the griddle for brunch, from the grill for dinner, or a delectable dessert, save some for a family who will appreciate it.

26. Attend a Memorial Day parade.

27. Tune in to the annual Memorial Day concert on PBS.

Visit https://www.pbs.org/nationalmemorial-day-concert/concert/performers/ to view this year’s performers. 28. Clip coupons for troops.

The Overseas Coupon Program will take your expired coupons and send them to troops, who can use them at commissaries up to six months past their expiration dates.

29. Listen to veterans’ stories.

The Veterans History Project helps preserve veterans’ histories for the Library of Congress.

Color the Patriotic Picture All SPJST members ages eight and under can participate. All participants’ names will be entered in a drawing for prizes. Entries will be exhibited at the SPJST Home Office in Temple during the summer months. Mail entries to SPJST Youth Department, PO Box 100, Temple, Texas 76503-0100. Email entries to frankh@spjst.com and copy to tammym@spjst.com. All entries must be received by 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2022.

30. Visit a national park.

Tons of national parks are hosting virtual visits. Find one for your family here.

31. Read patriotic books.

Band of Brothers, The Things They Cannot Say, The Things They Carried, The Wall, and Memorial Day Surprise are good options depends on your children’s ages.

32. Make s’mores with a festive twist.

Hershey’s has red, white and blue Cookies ‘n’ Creme bars, which will make s’mores look as delicious as they taste.

33. Tune in to historical programming.

The History Channel and The Military Channel will be great for this socially distanced Memorial Day weekend.

34. Listen to patriotic songs.

The Library of Congress compiled a list of songs about American wars. Browse streaming services for more modern choices as well.

35. Take a veteran to school.

The Take a Veteran to School Day program is a great one for both students and veterans alike. Talk to your child’s school to see if you can establish a program for the upcoming academic year.

36. Go on a virtual scavenger hunt.

This is a great online scavenger hunt designed specifically for Memorial Day.

37. Color uniforms accurately.

Download patriotic coloring pages and learn which branches wear which colors.

38. Color a medal of honor.

Kids can color and dedicate their own special Medal of Honor from Crayola.

39. Have a moment of silence. Memorial Day, for all of its celebrations, is, at its core, one of the country’s most somber occasions. Mark it as such with a moment of silence to remember those who’ve lost their lives defending America.

40. Watch the Arlington National Cemetery Wreath Laying Ceremony.

On Memorial Day, at 9 a.m., you can view a wreath ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery to honor the men and women in uniform who have died while serving on the U.S. Department of Defense website. —SPJST—

2022 SPJST Flag Day Contest

THE THEME IS: “What Red, White, and Blue Means To Me”

FIRST PLACE PRIZES AWARDED IN FOUR DIVISIONS

Kindergarten - 2nd Grades $50 Gift Card 3rd - 5th Grades $50 Gift Card 6th - 8th Grades $50 Gift Card 9th - 12th Grades $50 Gift Card

Grand Prize: $100 Gift Card

All SPJST members who are in kindergarten to 12th grades are encouraged to enter. Youth club membership is not required. Age division is determined by grade level as of the 2021-2022 school year. The Rules: Write a Flag Day essay or poem that addresses the theme, “What Red, White, and Blue Means to Me.” Essay length must be between 150 and 500 words. Entries must be typed. Entries — including digital files —must include a cover sheet with participant’s name, address, phone number, email address, and lodge number. Entries must be original and created by the youth. Entries become the property of SPJST and will not be returned. Entries must be received on or before May 31, 2022. H Send entries by U.S. Mail to:

SPJST Flag Day Contest c/o SPJST Home Office • P.O. Box 100 • Temple, Texas 76503-0100 Send email entries to: frankh@spjst.com