Are you lucky enough to have an extended weekend this
weekend, thanks to the Memorial Day Holiday?
If so, first and foremost, don’t forget to take the time to remember
those who sacrificed their lives for our Country. If you’re a parent, I encourage you to spend
at least 15 minutes of your time educating your child about the history of the
day, originally established to honor over 600,000 American military personnel
who died defending our country in the Civil War. In fact, there are often many ways you can
combine the opportunity to educate your child along with a fun family day out,
away from home. Here are some things I
found in or around the city of Indianapolis that I just might take advantage of
with my family this Memorial Day weekend:
Spend the
Afternoon in Downtown Indianapolis
If you live in, or have visited Indianapolis, you’re
probably familiar with the Central Canal, which winds around the heart of
downtown Indianapolis. In addition to
providing a wealth of beautiful scenery, the Canal is a fantastic place to plan
a day filled with activities ranging from a brisk morning jog, to a family ride
on a pedal boat or bicycle, both available as rentals through on-site vendors
at the canal and adjoining White River State Park.
Located along the path of the canal, visitors will also find
the Congressional Medal of Honor Memorial.
This beautifully designed features 27 curved glass walls ranging from 7
to 10 feet in height. Etched into these
walls is information about 3,436 Medal of Honor recipients who displayed
various acts of bravery during 15 specific historical conflicts.
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Another National Memorial that can be found along the Canal
is the USS Indianapolis Memorial.
Another memorial open 24 hours per day, seven days a week, this memorial
honors the crew of a Navy cruiser called the USS Indianapolis, which was
destroyed by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945 at 12:14 a.m. during World War
II. The names of the ship’s company and
final passenger can be found engraved on the South side of the structure.
Other activities on or near the Canal include the Butterfly
Kaleidoscope at White River Gardens, the Indianapolis Zoo, the Indiana State Museum and Indianapolis
downtown IMAX
theatre.
Not far from the Canal, also located in Downtown
Indianapolis is the Emil A.
Blackmore Museum. Inside the
National Headquarters of the American Legion, located at 700 North Pennsylvania
Street in Indianapolis, you’ll find two rooms that feature a wealth of fine art
as well as military and Legion-related items.
In addition to exhibits featuring military uniforms and gear, visitors
will find various war weapons, uniforms and memorabilia as well as the original
handwritten draft for the 1944 GI Bill of Rights.
Grissom Air Museum
Just a little over an hour north of Indianapolis you’ll find
the Grissom Air Museum, home to over 20 preserved aircraft and a wealth of war
history. A great place for a family
outing, and the kids will enjoy a climb up the Observation Tower. Though the museum is small in size, it’s said
to be well worth the visit.
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While these are just a couple of “Memorial Day off work with
the family” suggestions, there’s a load of other activities waiting for the
arrival of fun-seeking families. Where
will you be spending your Memorial Day?
If you’re not from my great city of Indianapolis, Indiana, but know of
some great activities going on in your city, please feel free to comment with
the name of your city and links to interesting Memorial Day activities.
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