Memorial Day 2026: Remembering to celebrate the holiday for what it represents

Written By: Dani Espinal

For many people, Memorial Day is a long awaited break from the repetitive work week. A day off for children and adults alike, most use the 3 day weekend as a quick getaway. For most, how well the 3 day vacation goes is typically dependent on how good the weather is. When going on your first vacation in a while, no matter how short it is, the most popular consensus is that warm, sunny weather is most preferred.  Unfortunately, for the Quiles family, the weather did not look favorably upon them this Memorial Day weekend. Weeks in advance, the family decided that Memorial Day would be perfect to celebrate dear Mateo’s 2nd birthday. The day was perfect; most of Mateo’s family would be available to join in on the celebration. Those coming from far away would already be in the area due to other plans bringing them closer. The weekend was perfect in terms of timing. Unfortunately, the weather did not agree with this sentiment. From the 22nd of May to the 25th, the weather in Long Island, New York had been nothing but dark skies and rainy days. 

Rain or shine, for a rambunctious child like Mateo, the weather means nothing at all. In fact, if given the chance, Mateo and his gang of tiny cousins would have sprinted out the open doors and rolled around in the mud. But for the adults of his family, this was a drag situation. After a hefty discussion, everyone agreed. Memorial Day never used to feel like this in the past. Previously, Memorial Day was almost like a miniature 4th of July, a preview: the beaches open, people eat nothing but barbecued meats and vegetables, the drinks keep on flowing and the music keeps on playing. It’s a day meant to be enjoyed outside. With the sun shining bright, people should be able to walk in the park or the boardwalk. They should be able to play sports or games such as pickleball, cornhole, and badminton. Most importantly, the night almost always ends with a couple fireworks. A dazzling display of colored lights in the sky would have ended the day with a big bang, leaving everyone with memories of a time well spent. 

Maybe at another time, on another day, it would have been appreciated. There are many people who love some good rainy weather, taking it as a sign to stay in, wrapped in a warm blanket or enjoying a warm beverage, and staying inside with their loved ones. Although most would not appreciate weather like we had seen, it was not too hard to look past the storm clouds and find the light in the circumstances. This day was not what the family had expected for it to be. As Mrs. Angela Quiles put it, “this weather is for the birds.” Everyone could agree with this statement. Nobody wanted a good day to be wasted inside. However, when life deals a heavy hand, one must make due with the circumstances. Despite the initial sour mood at the start of the day, the family was able to make the best out of the day indoors. Remembering that being able to hang out with the family is so much more important, especially when remembering what Memorial Day is all about and how there are some people who are not able to spend time with their loved ones anymore.

While it is more enjoyable and exciting to think about all of the things we get to do with our friends and family in order to celebrate Memorial Day weekend, it is important for people to understand why we take the extra time off during the month of May each and every year. As most people may or may not know, Memorial Day is a holiday meant to honor and celebrate those in the United States military who have lost their lives. The holiday started back in 1868, to honor the hundreds of thousands of soldiers who lost their lives during the American Civil War, which only ended a couple years prior. It did not become recognized as a federal holiday until 1971. Memorial Day is always celebrated on the last Monday of May. The day truly is not an extra day for us to take off from work or from school, rather it is a day that we are meant to remember the soldiers who put their lives at risk in order to serve our country. It seemed that when most people at Mateo’s party were asked about what the details of Memorial Day were, not many were able to provide a solid answer. Many of them had never even heard of the holiday’s origin. Mr. Andrew Quiles shared that he “never really put much thought into it. It was never really something that was explained to me so I never really saw a reason to actually celebrate.”

Mateo’s party was not the only group of people that had to deal with the damp mood of this Monday holiday, and shared the same sentiment. As expected, many others had to cancel their plans due to the cold weather and make due with last minute substitutions. Ms. Christina Turcios and her family had to make swift adjustments: they exchanged their day out on the Long Beach Boardwalk, eating in restaurants with outdoor seating, and window shopping for a day touring around Roosevelt Field Mall and catching a movie at the AMC Roosevelt Field 8. Being able to get their steps in and take in a new and buzzing film was satisfactory enough for the Turcios family. According to Ms. Turcios, “my dad was definitely the most upset out of all of us. He was really looking forward to playing on his grill all day but you know, life goes on.” Even though these activities were certainly not the desired choices for anyone, many people were able to celebrate Memorial Day in a way that made it memorable for themselves and their loved ones.

It is a day to have appreciation and express gratitude for those who gave their lives so that we can have ours. People love to complain and even joke around that our precious days off become ruined when the weather takes an unexpected turn. However, it would be best to remember the importance that we put upon this day every year. And that is not something that can be taken for granted. In fact, remembering why Memorial Day is celebrated makes the day all the more special to spend with loved ones.