America Celebrates Memorial Day Ten Ways

8) Gay Memorial Day Weekend – Pensacola, FL
Each spring, crowds of gay men and women congregate in the Florida Panhandle for this annual celebration of pride and diversity. Comprised largely of circuit parties, concerts, and nightlife events, the weekend creates a great sense of solidarity for the people attending and pulls in a large sum for the local economy. While the area frequently referred to as the "Redneck Riviera" isn't uniformly the most tolerant region of the country, it does seem to adopt a live-and-let-live attitude for the late-May weekend. During the day, beach-going is practically mandated, and the parade of fun-loving men and women makes for fantastic people-watching.

May 21-25
http://www.memorialweekendpensacola.com/

9) Indianapolis 500 – Speedway, IN
One of America's biggest and best-known car races, this Indianapolis classic – "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing" – has been a motorsports mainstay since it premiered in 1911. While the entire array of events associated with the Indy 500 runs for weeks before the main competition, the race itself coincides with the Memorial Day weekend. To be close to the action, consider tent or RV camping on the premises, and include yourself among the approximately 400,000 folks who make a pilgrimage to the race track each year. If you don't get to the Midwest in person, know that you can catch the race (with millions of others) on TV and get a sense of the action without a film of oil and soot!

May 24, 1pm
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
www.indy500.com/

10) Decoration Day in your own hometown – Anywhere, USA
The forerunner to Memorial Day was Decoration Day, an observation of the sacrifice Union soldiers made during the Civil War. In time (and with cooler emotions), it took root in the South and evolved into a day to adorn the graves of family members, a practice that lasted well beyond its transformation into Memorial Day. Now, in the midst of economic turmoil, we long for simpler times and more authentic experiences. To recapture that sensibility, reflect this year on the life-giving efforts made by military men and women from your own hometown. Take advantage of the beautiful spring weather, and clear debris from grave markers. Trim the grass and weeds around headstones, and lay down a fresh bouquet or stake a small American flag to honor the patriots who gave up their lives for our freedom. Bring the family or gather friends, and make the act of cleaning your personal note of gratitude. On the first day of "official" summer, acknowledge that our license to play and prosper comes through sacrifice, and make a gesture of thanks for the privilege of inhabiting the land of the free and the home of the brave.