Understanding Memorial Day
It’s easy to confuse Memorial Day with Veterans Day or even the Fourth of July. All three are patriotic holidays, but they honor different things. Veterans Day celebrates all who have served. The Fourth of July commemorates the birth of our nation. But Memorial Day is different. For our full-time RV family, this day is about remembrance. It’s reserved for honoring those who gave their lives in service to our country.
What Memorial Day Means to Our RV Family
When most people think about Memorial Day, they picture barbecues, long weekends, and the unofficial start of summer. But for us, it’s so much more than that.
As a full-time RV family with deep military roots, Memorial Day carries a weight we feel in our bones. We’ve driven through military towns where flags line the roads. We’ve stood in silence at national cemeteries. And we’ve talked to our kids, sometimes with tears in our eyes, about what it really means to serve and to sacrifice.
“And I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free. And I won’t forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.“
Lee Greenwood
Why It Matters More on the Road
When you live full-time on the road, you don’t have a permanent hometown or a local parade to count on. That means we have to make Memorial Day meaningful, wherever we are.
James served in the U.S. Army for years, spending long stretches training in harsh conditions—including months in the middle of the desert—that took a toll on his body and spirit. He was trained for physically demanding work that he loved. But after a serious injury and multiple surgeries, it became clear that life would never go back to the way it was. The damage was permanent—some visible, some not.
We carry that reality with us. Every twinge of pain, every hard conversation with doctors, and every moment of frustration is a reminder of what service costs. It’s not just the soldier who carries the burden—but the whole family. For example, we’ve walked through the aftermath of war, and Memorial Day brings all of that front and center.
We know people who didn’t come home. That changes how you see a flag. It changes how you spend this day.
“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends,”
Martin Luther King Jr.
How We Talk About Memorial Day with Our Kids as an RV Family
As a traveling RV family, explaining Memorial Day to our kids means finding ways to connect history with the places we visit and the people we meet. It can be hard to explain to young children. We try to keep it age-appropriate while still being honest.
We tell them it’s not about a three-day weekend—it’s about people who gave up every weekend, every birthday, and every moment with their family so we could have ours.
We read stories about real heroes. We visit historical sites. We pause at 3 PM local time for a moment of silence. And we fly our flag with pride.
Simple Ways to Honor Memorial Day on the Road
You don’t need to be near a big city or a military base to make this day matter. Here are a few ways RV families like ours can observe Memorial Day with meaning:
- Fly a flag: Put one on your RV or campsite.
- Visit a military memorial: Many towns have small monuments tucked away.
- Moment of silence: Pause at 3 PM local time to reflect.
- Share a story: Talk about a fallen hero, even if you didn’t know them personally.
- Watch a tribute video or documentary: Use media to spark conversation.
- Write letters: Have your kids write thank-you notes to service members or veterans.
The Table for the Fallen Soldier
One of the most powerful symbols we share with our kids each year is the Missing Man Table. Sometimes called the Fallen Soldier Table, this tradition honors the men and women who never made it home. We’ve seen these tables in VFW halls, museums, and even set one up ourselves on our picnic table.
Each item on the table has meaning: the white cloth for purity, the empty chair for the missing, a lemon slice for the bitterness of loss, and a single red rose to symbolize the blood shed. Even a simple display sparks a meaningful conversation.
You can create your own small version while camping, and use it to teach your kids why we remember. It’s a quiet but powerful tradition.
Missing Man Table
The symbolism of the Missing Man Table:
-The table is round, to show our everlasting concern for our missing men.
-The cloth is white, symbolizing the purity of their motives when answering the call to serve.
-The single red rose; displayed in a vase, reminds us of the lives of these Americans and their loved ones and friends who keep the faith while seeking answers.
-The red ribbon symbolizes our continued determination to account for our missing.
-A slice of lemon reminds us of their bitter fate; captured and missing in a foreign land.
-A pinch of salt symbolizes the tears of our missing and their families who long for answers after decades of uncertainty.
-The lighted candle reflects our hope for their return, alive or dead.
-The Bible represents the strength gained through faith to sustain us and those lost from our country, founded as one nation under God.
-The glass is inverted, symbolizing their inability to share a toast.
-The chair is empty, the seat that remains unclaimed at the table.
Our Own Family Tradition
Every year, we find a quiet place—usually out in nature—and take a walk or hike together. There’s no music. There are no distractions. Just us, remembering. We talk about sacrifice. We reflect. And we remind our kids that freedom always comes at a cost.
This tradition grounds us. It centers us. And it keeps the true meaning of Memorial Day alive.
Freedom isn’t free. But we can honor those who paid the price.
If this post resonates with you, we’d love it if you’d Pin it, share it, or pass it on to someone who needs the reminder. And if you’re a fellow military family or know someone who is, thank you. We see you. We remember with you.
Want to take your reflection a step further?
Consider supporting organizations listed below. Each of them helping families of the fallen in their own special way.
Wreaths Across America
Coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at military cemeteries nationwide.
TAPS – Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
Offers support to families who have lost a loved one in military service.
Folded Flag Foundation
Provides scholarships and support grants to families of fallen service members.
Gary Sinise Foundation
Supports veterans, first responders, and their families through a variety of programs.
Tunnel to Towers Foundation
Provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star families, first responders, and catastrophically injured veterans in honor of fallen heroes
