Struggling with student loan debt? Sign up for a free live workshop on 5/21 and speak with experts

Content starts here

3 Ways to Honor Memorial Day

Tennessee Army veteran shares what you can do to honor Memorial Day

Sarasota National Cemetery with rows of white tomb stones with flowers and USA flags on green grass

Getty Images

Memorial Day can seem like a difficult holiday to observe. If you don’t have a direct connection to America’s fallen soldiers, you might even reduce the holiday to thoughts and prayers. However, there are more ways than you might realize to honor Memorial Day and the real stories behind it.

Just ask Captain R.R. Hempstead.

Hempstead has spent his life in service of America. He’s a 4th generation Army veteran and a 3rd generation Army captain. Years after his active duty, he devotes his time to nonprofit work, helping veterans across Tennessee.

His family has a rich military history. His grandfather, Robert, was killed in action during World War II. His maternal great-grandfather enlisted at 16 and fought in France. These connections give Memorial Day especially important to Hempstead.

However, the holiday is just as important to Americans who have few ties to the military. “It’s not easy,” said Hempstead of being in the Army. “There are people out there who are fighting for every American.” Because of this, Memorial Day should be important to all Americans.

Honoring Memorial Day is something every Tennessean can do, regardless of who you are. “There are things that each of us can do that aren’t big investments of time or money, but that will almost certainly will be appreciated,” said Hempstead.

Hempstead shared with AARP Tennessee three small but impactful ways to honor America’s fallen soldiers this Memorial Day.

1. Visit a local Tennessee cemetery

Taking a trip to a nearby cemetery can put the sacrifices of America’s soldiers into perspective. This trip is worthwhile even if there’s not a veteran specific cemetery close by.

“I can guarantee you that at pretty much every cemetery local to someone’s house is going to be someone who served, if not perished in one of our wars, or in their service to our country,” said Hempstead.

While headstones cannot tell complete stories, they do put names and dates to people. They redefine the statistics we see about the lives affected by America’s wars.

“When you realize, you got a 19-year-old kid who didn’t get to live his full life,” said Hempstead, “stand there for a minute and look at that gravestone and realize what that means. Lay a wreath. Put some flowers down. If nothing else, spend a half-hour and walk around.”

Visits like these offer a solemn way to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.

2. Visit a local nursing home

Tennessee has five veteran-specific nursing homes across the state. However, you can find a veteran in almost every senior facility.

“Reach out,” said Hempstead. “There’s probably someone who served, in one capacity or another. Just spend 30 minutes and sit with them.”

Visiting these homes is an opportunity to honor those who’ve served while they are still with us. It also gives veterans an opportunity to share their stories and the stories of those who served alongside them.

3. Learn American history

Perhaps the simplest thing Hempstead encourages all Americans to do is learn. “It’s about finding common ground and pushing back the curtain, for a little bit more understanding for what’s gone before,” said Hempstead. For him, this is at the heart of Memorial Day.

“There are online resources, for free, where you can go and listen to two-minute presentations that the WWII museum does,” Hempstead said. “They provide you the why and the human connection. That human connection is important.”

Resources like these help bridge the gap between the hero and the human. Understanding the sacrifice of America’s soldiers means also understanding their story.

“Humans have a hard time learning history and heeding it,” said Hempstead. “If we don’t understand it, we will commit the same mistakes again.”

This Memorial Day, “build a bridge,” as Hempstead would say. Even simple acts of kindness can help you create a connection with America’s soldiers and their families. It doesn’t take much, but it means a lot.