The Story of Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a special holiday we have every year on the last Monday in May. It’s a day to remember and honor all the brave men and women who died while serving in the United States military.
Memorial Day started after the Civil War, which was a war between the northern and southern states from 1861 to 1865. So many soldiers died in that war that women started decorating their graves with flowers. In 1868, General John A. Logan made it an official holiday and named it Decoration Day.
Later, the holiday’s name was changed to Memorial Day. It became a federal holiday in 1971. On this day, Americans visit cemeteries and memorials to place American flags or flowers on the graves of fallen soldiers. Special ceremonies are held in towns all over the country to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
People will see flags at half-staff until noon and then raised to the top of the staff until sunset. Three volleys are fired during some memorial ceremonies and a bugler will play Taps at the end. Memorial Day is a solemn day, but also a day to feel grateful for everything the brave men and women of our military have done to keep our country safe and free.
Enjoy the excitement with Coloring Pages for Memorial Day
And below is a collection of coloring pages suitable for young artists and even adults. Our Memorial Day Coloring Pages Printable are designed to inspire creativity and provide endless hours of entertainment, suitable for a wide range of ages.
Show off your creativity
Above are just black and white border drawings of Memorial Day. Think and use your favorite colors to embellish Memorial Day Coloring Pages more vividly so you can show it off to your parents. Are you ready, little artists?
Coloring ideas for you with Free Memorial Day Coloring Pages
- American Flag – Kids can color the red, white and blue stripes on an American flag. Talk to them about why we fly the flag at half-staff on Memorial Day.
- Gravestones – Provide a simple gravestone template for kids to color and add names of fallen soldiers. Discuss what gravestones represent.
- Poppies – Red poppies are a symbol of Memorial Day. Kids can color poppies and glue them onto construction paper as a craft. Explain the history behind this symbol.
- Soldiers – Provide silhouettes of soldiers from different eras for kids to color in their uniforms. Point out details like hats, badges and equipment from World War I, World War II, etc.
- Wreaths – Kids can color in wreaths made of leaves and ribbons. Wreaths are often placed on graves as a sign of remembrance.
- Cupcakes – For a fun snack, provide paper cupcake wrappers for kids to decorate with red and blue icing. Top with candies shaped like poppies.
- Cards – Have kids color pictures on cards thanking veterans for their service. Cards can be delivered to a local veterans home.
- These coloring ideas help kids engage in learning about Memorial Day in a fun, creative way. The activities spark conversations about symbols of remembrance and paying tribute to fallen heroes.
Basic Coloring Tips and Techniques
- Use crayons, colored pencils or markers. Have a variety of colors available for options.
- Start with light colors first before using darker shades. For example, color the sky light blue then go over with a darker blue.
- Color one section at a time instead of randomly all over. This makes the picture look neater.
- Go slowly and carefully try to stay inside the lines. It’s okay to go outside sometimes by mistake.
- Use different colored crayons to add details. For example, use red for the stripes on a flag or brown for details on a gravestone.
- Blend colors gently by lightly layering one color over another.
- Consider outlining pictures in a darker color first before filling in.
- Take breaks if you get frustrated with coloring in small spaces. Come back to it later.
- Most importantly, have fun! Coloring is a creative way to learn about Memorial Day. Don’t worry about mistakes – what matters is trying your best.
How do you feel about Memorial Day Coloring Pages. VTcoloring has many other Printable Coloring Pages for kids to explore and unleash their creativity after school hours. Happy coloring everyone!
