We have several patriotic holidays that we celebrate here in the U.S. These important days are meant to bring family and friends together and remind us how great our country really is. Without sounding boastful, we do live in the greatest country in the world and it’s important to remember WHY we do. These days mean so much more than just a 3 day weekend and an excuse for a cookout.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 15th
President’s Day (Washington and Lincoln’s Birthday)- Third Monday in February
Memorial Day – Last Monday in May
Flag Day – June 14th
Independence Day – July 4th
Constitution Day – September 17th
Columbus Day – Second Monday of October
Election Day – Tuesday following the first Monday of November
Veterans Day – November 11th
Bill of Rights Day – December 15th

There are also some lesser know days that many Americans like to show their patriotism. Such as National Medal of Honor Day on March 25, Patriot Day on September 11, Pearl Harbor Day on December 7, and Armed Forces Day which is celebrated on the third Saturday in May. For more significant days and observances visit We Are Here.

How many of these holidays do you recognize and/or celebrate? As the daughter and spouse of military men, as well as growing up in a military town, I consider myself to be quite patriotic and wear red, white and blue often. But I must admit that I never paid much attention to some of these days in the past. So I’m adding days like National Medal of Honor Day and Patriot Day to my calendar! I am also excited to get some new Patriotic Clothing @ TheFlagShirt.com I was checking out their site and The Flag Shirt has some really awesome patriotic items. The shirt that I love the most is this sleeveless American Flag shirt. It reminds of one that I had as a teen. I wore it until the buttons were falling off! What do you wear to show your patriotism?

WEAR YOUR FREEDOM!

Weight Watchers Get Healthy Freestyle Journey – Week 17

Memorial Day

Can you believe it’s MONDAY already and time once again to reflect on the past week?! In the recent weeks we have looked at milestones, how to stay motivated, the smart use of free foods, some tactics for dining out, surviving the holidays while dieting, the benefits of a 5% weight loss, diabetes, the importance of exercise, starting an exercise routine, and beginner exercises. Mother’s Day was the start of our grilling season and the first of a long list of summer grilling holidays. Last week, I continued with my new exercise routine and spent time with my sweetheart who is a Marine Vet. Since it is Memorial Day, I would like to say thank you to him, my father, who is retired Air Force, and all my readers who have or are serving in our armed forces for their service to our country. Thank you, for ensuring our safety and making the freedoms that we all enjoy in this great country possible. I appreciate each and every one of you.

Memorial Day

Originally called Decoration Day, from the early tradition of decorating graves with flowers, wreaths, and flags, Memorial Day is a day for remembrance of those who have died in service to our country. It was first widely observed on May 30, 1868, to commemorate the sacrifices of Civil War soldiers.

We do not know one promise these men made, one pledge they gave, one word they spoke; but we do know they summed up and perfected, by one supreme act, the highest virtues of men and citizens. For love of country they accepted death, and thus resolved all doubts, and made immortal their patriotism and their virtue.

– James A. Garfield May 30, 1868, Arlington National Cemetery

In 1873, New York was the first state to designate Memorial Day as a legal holiday. By the late 1800s, many more cities and communities observed Memorial Day, and several states had declared it a legal holiday. After World War I, it became an occasion for honoring those who died in all of America’s wars and was then more widely established as a national holiday throughout the United States. In 1971, Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act and established that Memorial Day was to be commemorated on the last Monday of May.

HONOR. REMEMBER. NEVER FORGET.

The online Poppy Memorial pays tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation. Anyone is welcome to dedicate a poppy to a fallen servicemember. If you don’t know one personally, you can dedicate the poppy to “The Fallen Heros.” Dedicate A Poppy HERE.

This Memorial Day as we enjoy the warm weather, cookouts, and all sorts of outdoor activities we need to remember that today isn’t about beer, brats, and an extra day off from work. The heart of a holiday is to honor the more than 1.3 million Americans who have died in our nation’s wars. These men and women took an oath to the Constitution and served our country and each other with honor, dignity and courage. Giving ALL for their country. Join me as I reflect on the sacrifice these members of our armed forces have given so that we can enjoy our freedom and prosperity.

? SELF LOVE ?
You can’t hate yourself happy. You can’t criticize yourself thin. You can’t shame yourself worthy. Real change begins with self-love and self-care. -Jessica Ortner

We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude.

How my freestyle weight loss week went:

With appointments four out of five days this week it was another week of appointments and waiting rooms. With only two days of doing any exercises, my new exercise routine took a back seat this week. I did get some walking in as it’s over a half mile from were we park to the check-in for physical therapy. The new kitten is also keeping me busy. She thinks we are her human teething rings. Who would have thought that such tiny teeth could hurt so much!

Saturday was spent taking my neighbor to dialysis and working on this blog. Sunday was spent at home hanging out with Marcus. The weekend always seems to go by so fast. I got on the scale for my weekly weigh-in early Sunday. When I stepped on, I saw that this week I had not lost nor gained any weight. Not surprising as I’ve been lax and not doing as I know I should. Time to make time for ME and get back on track. I know I can do this as I’ve done it before. It just seems so much harder to lose weight this time. Until next week… Remember to stay positive and keep looking forward.

TALK TO ME

Where are you on your journey? What do you do to stay motivated? Did you dedicate a poppy?

Share your thoughts below or on my Facebook fan page.

I am not a medical professional. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or another qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.