Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in kansas city, KS

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

by Jenny Meade

May 21, 2009

I may have mentioned a time or twenty that this weekend is the KC Jiggle Jam. Mostly I'm so focused on it because A. It is pretty darn entertaining, and B. Really this weekend is all about things that young children just don't understand. It's about remembering those who have served to protect our country.  We tend to gloss over the real reason for this holiday sometimes, because the weather is usually so pretty and mild, and a long weekend is always a good time to gather with friends and family and fire up the grill.  And because, honestly, most of us just don't want to talk about tough stuff with our young kids. Either we don't know how, or we just don't want to jade them too early, maybe.

Depending on the age and maturity of your kids, there are a couple of places you could take them this weekend to get a glimpse into what the Memorial Day holiday is really about.  Here in Kansas City, we have a rich history of honoring our fallen heroes.  Here's a few:

• WWI museum at Liberty Memorial
• Vietnam Veterans Memorial - 43rd & Broadway off the Plaza
• Rosedale Memorial Arch -  1403 Southwest Blvd. Kansas City, KS
• Buffalo Soldier Monument - Grant & Stimson Aves. Fort Leavenworth, KS
• Korean War Memorial - 119th & Lowell, Overland Park, KS

Maybe none of these things are for you. That's okay. You can always go catch the Royals playing the Detroit Tigers Monday afternoon. And with 10,000 other people, stand and hold your hat over your heart while singing our National Anthem, and feel your chest swell as the jets thunder across the sky. 

There's honor in the little things. And maybe that's lesson enough for our kids.