During the month of May, military service members and veterans can receive a free Red, White and Blue Thank You Sundae at Farrell’s ice cream parlors. You must show proof of service, such as a military photo ID, photo of yourself in uniform, membership card for American Legion or VFW, DD214 or discharge paperwork. It’s one free sundae per person for the promotion period and it cannot be combined with any other offer. You can also buy this sundae for $7.99 if you’re a civilian.
Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park is offering free admission to military service members and veterans on May 23 – 25 and reduced ticket prices of $43 for up to four additional guests over Memorial Day weekend. Soak City opened on May 16th and their newest attraction, The Iron Reef, a 4-D interactive ride is now open.
The Senate first passed a resolution in 1999 designating the month of May as National Military Appreciation Month, which encourages U.S. citizens to observe the month in a symbol of unity, and honor the current and former members of the armed forces, including those who have died in the pursuit of freedom and peace.
To many Americans, Memorial Day is about barbecues and hot dogs, the beginning of summer, and an extra day off work. This year, Memorial Day is on Monday, May 25th this year. According to the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, Memorial Day came to be when three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans, the Grand Army of the Republic, established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country. Today, many cities in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day.
Veteran Army Infantry Paratrooper, Sgt. Gregg Devitt, of Anaheim, Calif. said to him, “Memorial Day is to remember and celebrate the lives of the people who died fighting for our country.”
Veteran Army Staff Sgt. and Corporal Marine, Joshua Brown said, “I wish that people would recognize the difference between Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day because those that lost their lives fighting for others deserve to have theirs remembered. Don’t take the small things for granted, because every day is a gift often denied to many.”
Many places offer a year-round military discount to thank our military service men and women and their families. This Memorial Day, remember those who have given their lives to protect ours and thank a soldier.