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A look inside...
Mother’s Day Memories
DIY Kites
Spring into Summer Festival
Delectable Desserts
It’s Grilling Season
Graduation Party Ideas
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Editor Alex Zapetis
Contributors Dave Marshall Susan Moore Shonda Wells
Publisher
Creative ink
Creative Director Sears Hallett
Advertising
Kristi Williams 270-484-0463 kristi@creativeinktn.com
Photography
Unsplash pg: 21, 22 http://www.mixthatdrink.com Dreamstime Photo pg: Cover, 5, 7, 23, 25, 27
Hello Everyone, Our tribute to Mother’s Day is from Fort Campbell Spouses’ memories of their mom. May is also a great month to fly kites and we provide instructions on how to construct your own kites at home. Who is excited for sunshine, swimming, and yummy food? Speaking of food, we have some great grilling recipes and some sweet treats. We also have some perfect budget friendly ideas to try out when hosting that upcoming graduation party. Don’t forget to also check out the details of some fantastic summer events like the annual Spring into Summer festival and the new outdoor concert venue at Oak Grove Racing and Gaming. It’s going to be a wonderful month!
Alex Zapetis, Editor alex@creativeinktn.com
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Mother’s Day is a special day to thank Moms all across the globe for their love and dedication to their children. Mothers are real-life superheroes and make even the smallest moments special. That is why we wanted to hear a few of our reader's favorite moments with their Mothers. “When I was young, we used to get McDonald’s happy meals and go have a picnic together! It’ll be 9 years tomorrow since she passed, it’ll forever be my favorite memory!” – Jenna M
“My adoption day. I still remember the day I was brought to her.” – Kiska M
“My mom took me to SO many concerts! Even concerts that were 100%, not her jam. She’d do “I don’t remember a lot from when I was little, but my everything she could to grab tickets via favorite memory is when my mom used to work at Ticketmaster the second they became available. this Irish restaurant called Bennigans as a From Spice Girls, N*sync, BSB, to multiple All That waitress. She always brought home Music and More Festivals. She even took me to shamrock-shaped sugar cookies for me and my see Blink 182 and MxPx my freshman year of high brother, and she would bring home a Shirley Temple school. It means so much to me that she always just for me because it was my favorite “fancy” drink.” went above and beyond to facilitate something – Raven S I was super interested in. She’s super rad.” - Kaelah F “When I was little, we would go to these mother-daughter weekend campouts and one “Mine is seeing her after having my daughter. of those trips we made handprint art She took a train 52 hours from Illinois-El Paso, TX (my handprints next to hers), it’s been 16 years to meet me in the hospital!” since she’s been gone and that will always be my – Alexandria R favorite piece of art!!” – Anna S
“When me and my momma would take baking classes to learn how to make the perfect kind of frosting and the different designs because we would spend half the day and laugh at each other because we would be covered in frosting by the end of the class.” - Marie S “My mom drove 16 hours straight to try to make it for my surrogate baby’s birth back in 2016. Unfortunately, she didn’t get there until right after I finished pushing her out, but I will always be forever grateful that she tried.” -Alexandra W “We were living in Germany and my mom took me to Spain for my 11th birthday. We were on the beach and there were some people from our church there. After we told them it was my birthday one of them left and came back about 30 minutes later with a cake and they all sang happy birthday to me and we had cake and a little celebration on the beach. It was amazing and one of the best birthdays ever for me.” -Sinead K “After I had lifesaving surgery as a kid, I would stay up all night because my sleep schedule was so off. One night she stayed up all night with me & watched Criminal Minds! To a small kid, that was the coolest thing ever.” – Chrissy M “My mom had extreme health issues. Each morning before school I would make us fried egg sandwiches with strawberry jelly and butter before school and eat them in bed with her. We would talk about the day ahead and what we each needed to do. A few weeks before she passed away, I went home and spent the night. I was celebrating my divorce being final and getting my last name back. I woke early and made us breakfast in bed. Now 13 years later I make this on her birthday. m y birthday and Christmas Eve. The day she passed 12/24/2008.” -Aunna M “We used to travel to Greece when I was younger. I have a memory snorkeling there with my momI can still see her diving down below me with her flippers on. I thought she looked so beautiful, like a mermaid.” - Victoria B
“Some of my favorite memories are my mama with her grandsons. She would walk the neighborhoods with them trick or treating. She rode scary rides with them at amusement parks. She camped with them. She listened to their stories. She never failed to let them know how important they were to her. She loved her grandchildren so much! This will be my first Mother's Day without my mama. I miss her so much but strive to carry on her legacy of living life to the fullest and always filling my days with joy.” – Tonya S “My favorite memory AS a mommy was watching my daughter (active duty, dual army, husband combat deployed) deliver my first grandchild. She's always been strong and capable- being a female soldier requires fortitude- but I've never witnessed anything more beautiful. She’s still serving, here, and working on another degree, and the best mommy I know.” -Kari L “My mom was a hippie child and grew up mostly in Southern California going to all sorts of music events and shows and seeing so many artists. Somehow, she never saw Elton John so for her birthday I surprised her with tickets to his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour. We had to wait until it was almost her next birthday by the time for the show, but it was the best night we have ever had together. We struggle hard to get along, but that night was pure love and enjoying the music and each other's company.” – Oesa H “My favorite memory with my mom is the day my child was born. My husband was deployed and could not make it for the birth of our daughter... so my mom being the superhero she is, jumped on a plane and helped me bring my baby into the world. She also stayed for 2 months.” – Kara H “This is going to sound awful but one time my mom fell down the stairs and broke her tailbone. For some reason, we just laughed and laughed and laughed! We still cannot tell you to this day why it was so funny. Every time I see her, we still laugh over it until our stomachs hurt and we have tears coming.” -Jennifer L 6
Kites are a perfect summer activity for all ages. There are so many unique and fun ones out there for purchase, but did you know that you can build your very own ones with a few simple tools that you probably already have laying around the house? Yes, it is true! Sit down one day this summer and give one of these DIY kites a try. You can even make both and fly them at the same time.
Quick and Easy Kite Thick Construction Paper • Two Sturdy Sticks or Straws Hot Glue • A Long Yarn String • Scissors Directions: 1. To begin, lay your two sticks to make a cross on top of your construction paper. 2. Measure it so that your sticks end where you are going to cut out your kite. A perfect shape for this kite is a diamond like shape shown in the photographs. 3. Cut out your kite. 4. Glue your stick together and to the construction paper. 5. Glue one end of your string to the sticks on the kite. 6. Make sure to leave a long enough string behind so that your kite can soar high in the sky.
Garbage Bag Kite Garbage Bag • String Two sticks • Ribbon Scissors Directions: 1. Tie your sticks together with a piece of string into a cross shape. You can use many things for your sticks such as skewers, twigs, and dowels. 2. Cut your garbage bag to fit the frame. 3. Tie your garbage bag to fit each end of the frame. Make sure the knots are tied extra tight. 4. Tie a super long string to the frame of your kite so you can have your handle.
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Get ready because the 13th annual Spring into Summer Salutes Fort Campbell Festival(take 2) is a go. On Saturday there will be a 6-man parachute jump show before the concert. There will also be a fantastic fireworks show to close out the night. If you are new to the area, this festival is one you never want to miss. The 13th Annual Spring into Summer Festival Salutes Fort Campbell (take 2) will take place May 29 & 30, 2021. Activities will run Saturday, May 29th from 12 pm-9 pm and Sunday, May 30th from 12 pm-6 pm. This event is family-friendly and this year’s festival will have three stage shows that your kids are sure to enjoy. The shows include Davy’s Adventure Show as well as a mermaid-themed Aquatic Acrobatic Show! America’s Got Talent Finalists, The Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show will also be there to put on a great performance for all attendees. Festival favorite Oscar the Robot will be back roaming the grounds greeting all the excited guests. Did we mention that there will be free carnival rides for all to enjoy? No tickets or wristbands are required. All Active Duty Military will also have the opportunity to enter for a free basket of fun and exciting stuff. The Spring into Summer Festival Salutes Fort Campbell is free and open to the public. For more information on this spectacular event, visit http://visitoakgroveky.com/festivals/spring-into-summer-festival-salutes-fort-campbell/ 11
Scholarships, Grants and Awards Banquet The Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club is excited to announce their scholarships, grants, and awards banquet scheduled for May 28th at Belle Hollow at Miss Lucille’s located at 2231 Madison St. Clarksville. To stay up to date about this fantastic event and more, please visit www.facebook.com/fortcampbellspousesclub Awarding scholarships and grants is not the only amazing way that The Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club helps the community. They also spotlight a local charity almost monthly to assist them with receiving donations. One phenomenal charity they have supported in the past is Project F.U.E.L. Project F.U.E.L. is a non-profit organization based in Clarksville that does not provide every meal a child needs but helps provide supplementary food for when children aren’t in school. It is said that one in five children experience hunger daily in Tennessee. The free lunch they receive at school might be the only time these children will eat in a day. Project F.U.E.L. has stepped in to bring food to those same hungry children who suffer every day in the area so that they don’t have to worry about when they will have their next meal. “The Mission of Project F.U.E.L. is to relieve hunger in school-aged children, to enhance spiritual, physical, and emotional health, and to relieve anxiety, and improve attention and self-esteem, leading to increased academic performance and ultimately higher graduation rates.” Did you know that a child can often go 67 hours without adequate food over the weekend? How about that 16 million children in America are not getting the food they need at home? Last year, this amazing organization provided 1875 meals to children in Montgomery County schools. A small food or money donation can make a huge difference in these children’s lives. To donate, please visit their website at www.fuelforkids.org. For more information on the Fort Campbell Spouses’ Club, please visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/fortcampbellspousesclub/ or their website https://www.fortcampbellspousesclub.org/.
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Oak Grove Outdoor Amphitheater Oak Grove Racing, Gaming & Hotel, just a quick spin from Nashville in Oak Grove, Kentucky, is the area’s newest entertainment destination. Featuring over 1,300 state-of-the-art gaming machines, four restaurants, 128 room luxury hotel, RV Park, outdoor amphitheater and Equestrian Center, it is easy to see why they say it is “so Vegas, so close”. Opening this month is the Oak Grove Outdoor Amphitheater. Situated in the center of Oak Grove’s 5/8-mile harness racing track, the amphitheater has over 850 permanent seats and a grass lawn that can hold over 1,000 general admission music lovers. Oak Grove Gaming will host its first concert, the Spring Blues Festival on Saturday, May 8 featuring Crystal Shawanda, Johnny Rawls, and the Stacy Mitchhart Band. This free outdoor show will be socially distanced and offer food trucks, a beer garden and more.
Fun and excitement abounds at the entertainment complex just off I-24 Exit 86 just across the street from Fort Campbell Army Post. You can play the latest and greatest gaming machines ranging from a penny to $1 in denomination. New game themes coming soon include popular brands Wheel of Fortune, China Shores, Mayan Chief and more! If you’re looking for a place to catch all of the homeruns, slam dunks, touchdowns and more, grab a seat at The Sports Bar and catch a game on their 300 square foot video board surrounded by eight 84-inch televisions. You can also enjoy live music on the Sports Bar Stage on weekends and select holidays. Now open is our 30 space RV Park, complete with electric and water hookups offering spacious pull in spots. The road weary traveler will be delighted to benefit from the amenities on-site such as vending and showers, located conveniently close to the Gaming Entrance. If it’s great dining options that you are looking for, Oak Grove has you covered. Quick serve options include O’Dark Thirty Coffee House, Sgt. Pepper’s Burgers & Po’Boys and Lucky Lime Tex Mex. These restaurants
feature a variety of delectable dishes and are just steps from all of the gaming action. If you are looking for a culinary adventure, head to Garrison Oak Steakhouse and take a journey through flavors and dishes that are rich to the heritage of the local region and beyond. The atmosphere in the r estaurant is fine dining unsurpassed from anything else in the area, featuring décor that is sophisticated and equipped to entertain patrons for special occasions or simply to try something new. Visit www.oakgrovegaming.com or call 270-984-4200 for entertainment schedules, hours of operation and to make reservations for Garrison Oak, the Hotel, or RV Park. Reservations for the Steak House can also be made via Open Table.
Highline Spritzer Round Robin 1 egg white 1 teaspoon sugar 1 ounce absinthe 1 ounce brandy Shake all the ingredients very, very thoroughly (to mix up the egg white) with ice in a shaker. Strain the mixture into a wine glass.
1 ½ ounces white tequila ¾ ounce Lillet Rose ¾ ounce fresh lemon juice ¾ ounce lavender syrup 1 ounce prosecco Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in all the ingredients. Shake well, and strain into a wine glass. Garnish with a lemon wheel and lavender sprig.
Tokyo Iced Tea 1 ounce vodka 1 ounce gin 1 ounce rum 1 ounce tequila 2 ounces Midori Juice of 1/4 lime 7-Up Fill an old-fashioned glass halfway with ice. Pour in all the ingredients (except the 7-Up). Fill up the rest of the way with 7-up. Stir gently so as not to bruise the alcohols. Garnish with a kiwi round, cherry, lemon or lime slice.
Drink recipes and photos courtesy of https://www.mixthatdrink.com
Sea Breeze Drink 1 1⁄2 ounces vodka 1 1⁄2 ounces cranberry juice 4 ounces of grapefruit juice Option 1: Stirred Pour the vodka into a highball glass over ice. Pour in the grapefruit juice. Stir them both together. Pour in the cranberry. Stir until the drink is all one color. Garnish with a lime wedge. Option 2: Shaken Fill a cocktail shaker halfway with ice. Pour in all the liquid ingredients. Shake well until chilled. Strain the mixture into a highball glass filled with ice. Garnish with a lime wedge.
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A Soldier’s Child Foundation was created by Daryl J.W. Mackin after his neighbors lost their son, Marine Staff Sergeant Marcus Golczynski, in Iraq on March 27, 2007. Their mission is to serve the children of military personnel who have lost their lives on active duty, while defending the United States of America. They do this by offering the following services: Birthday Celebrations They donate $150 per child every birthday from 1 until 18 years old to help celebrate this special child. Mentorship Programs/Camps They offer a Journey Camp experience for children ages 9-16. It is a week-long summer camp hosted by ASC. They offer some very exciting programs such as golf, dance, sports, theater, science, songwriting, hunting/fishing programs, and more. College Scholarships ASC teams up with the Folded Flag Foundation to offer scholarships to its recipients. A few of the scholarships awarded include educational scholarships that cover the cost of private school tuition and fees, tutoring, and more for qualified children in grades K–12. They also offer scholarships for qualified college-bound spouses and/or children under the age of 26 years old. These scholarships are used to cover the cost of tuition and fees, books, computers, living expenses, tutoring, etc. “There are many children like Christian Golcynski that will never receive another birthday gift from their father/mother because they gave their life while defending our freedoms. Likewise, the fallen soldier will never be able to give their child a surprise birthday party, a bicycle for their son, a necklace for their daughter, financial assistance for their child’s first car, or pursuit of higher education.” – Daryl Mackin There are many ways to donate to this amazing foundation. You can sponsor a child, sponsor an event, donate an honor gift, or make a one-time donation. To find out more information on donating, please go to www.asoldierschild.org/ways-to-donate If you know of a child that is eligible to receive the benefits of this foundation, please go to www.asoldierschild.org/enroll-your-child for more information on how to enroll them. 19
There is nothing quite like sinking your teeth into a delectable dessert. Whether you love fruity flavors, or rich chocolate, a good dessert can bring a smile to just about anyone’s face. That is why we wanted to bring you some yummy sweets to try out this month. They will have you going back for seconds…and even thirds.
Fudgy Brownies 1 stick unsalted butter • 1 1⁄8 cup granulated sugar • 1⁄2 cup cocoa powder • 1⁄4 tsp baking powder 1 ⁄4 tsp table salt • 1⁄2 tbsp vanilla • 2 large eggs • 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour 3 ⁄4 cup chopped bittersweet chocolate Preheat oven to 350°F and grease an 8x8 pan. Melt your butter in microwave, and then mix in your sugar. Mix until the sugar is fully incorporated, and then microwave for 30 more seconds. Mix again until smooth. Stir in your cocoa powder, baking powder, salt, vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Add in eggs and mix well. Once it is well incorporated, add in your flour. Your batter should be smooth and glossy. Stir in your chopped chocolate. Pour your batter into the pan and top with chopped chocolate. Bake brownies for about 20-25 minutes. Allow to cool before serving. 21
Oreo Cupcakes 50 Oreo Cookies, plus more if wanting to use for decoration. 1 pkg chocolate cake mix and its required ingredients 8 oz cream cheese, room temperature 8 Tbsp butter, room temperature • 4 c powdered sugar • 1 tsp vanilla extract cupcake liners Preheat oven to 350 and prepare your cake mix according to the package. Place your liners into your cupcake tin and place an Oreo at the bottom of each liner. Chop up around 15 cookies and mix it into your cake mix. Proceed by scooping your cake mix into the liners. Bake for 20 minute or until your cake is fully cooked. Place your cupcakes to the side to cool. Cream together butter and cream cheese, and then add in your vanilla. Slowly mix in your powdered sugar until it is creamy. Mix in more Oreo crumbs into your frosting. Pipe on your frosting and top with an Oreo.
Three Ingredient Apple Cobbler Canned Apple Pie Filling • One Box Spice Cake Mix • ½ Stick Butter Dump your canned pie filling into the bottom of a crock pot. Top with your dry cake mix. Do not stir it. Place a few small cubes of butter on top of the dry cake mix. Spread them out evenly. Cook on high for 2 hours. Serve warm.
We have the perfect summer experience for you to check out this season. That is a trip to all of the local Farmer’s Markets! It is a wonderful opportunity to get the entire family out of the house, while also supporting small local businesses. A trip to the Farmer’s Market means delicious fruits, vegetables, and good times. So break out those reusable baskets and get ready to enjoy the sunshine while you shop.
Clarksville Farmer’s Market Did you know that the Clarksville Downtown Market was voted the #1 Market in America in 2020? This market is a weekly open-air market featuring farmers and artisans who offer locally-grown fresh produce, food items, and handcrafted products. Come out and enjoy live music, meet the Market Mascot, "Corny the Cob," and participate in special events on select market days. It is open on: Saturdays, May 15 - October 2, 2021 8am to 12noon and is located at 1 Public Square, Clarksville. For more information visit www.cityofclarksville.com/302/Clarksville-Downtown-Market
Hopkinsville-Christian County Downtown Farmer’s Market This fun little farmers market is the home to all the fresh fruit and vegetables that your family could ever need. They also have vendors that carry all kinds of unique homemade goodies. The market will be open every Tuesday and Saturday from 7am until 1pm. It can be found at 110 W 9th Street, Hopkinsville To stay up to date with the Hopkinsville-Christian County Downtown Farmer’s Market, please visit their Facebook page www.facebook.com/HopkinsvilleDowntownFarmersMarket/
Cadiz-Trigg County Farmer’s Market They are home to a ton of different kinds of fresh vegetables and juicy fruits. You can also find farm-raised pork, chicken and beef. There is nothing like a nice home-cooked farm-to-table meal. If you are wanting a farmer’s market with cozy feel, stop on by the Cadiz-Trigg Farmer’s market. It is open Wednesdays and Saturdays from, 7am to 12:00pm. It can be found at 68 Main Street, Cadiz. For more information visit www.facebook.com/cadizkytourism
Nashville Farmer’s Market This market is by far the biggest option with over 150 vendors to choose from. This trip can definitely be an all-day event due to the endless amount of activities to participate in. A few of them include shopping for fresh produce, tasting artisanal food, sitting down at restaurants, visiting shops, making crafts, taking classes, and watching chef demos. You can visit it at 900 Rosa L Parks Blvd, Nashville, Tennessee 37208. It is open 7 days a week, 8 am to 4 pm. They are now also offering curbside pickup for those days you just need to stay in your car. For more information on all of the unique features that this market has to offer, go to www.nashvillefarmersmarket.org 23
The warmer weather means it is perfect grilling weather. Lighting up your grill is an amazing summer pastime. Don’t worry, you don’t have to cook the same old thing every time. There are so many unique and interesting grilling recipes that are just waiting for you to try them. Grab the lighter and your metal tongs, it is time to grill.
Grilled Lobster Tails 6 frozen lobster tails, thawed 3 ⁄4 cup olive oil 3 tablespoons minced fresh chives 3 garlic cloves, minced • 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 1 ⁄2 teaspoon pepper Cut your tails shells on the top and the underside to slightly loosen it. You will then pull the meat from shell, keeping the fin end attached. Next, lift the meat and lay over shell. In a small bowl, mix all of the remaining ingredients and brush it over lobster the meat. Set in your fridge for 20 minutes. Place the lobster tails, meat side up on your grill. Grill over medium heat for 10-12 minutes or until meat is opaque. Grilled Basil Chicken 3
⁄4 cup balsamic vinegar • 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 ⁄4 cup tightly packed fresh basil leaves 1 garlic clove, minced • 1⁄2 teaspoon salt 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each) Place all of your ingredients expect for the chicken into the blender. Combine your chicken and 2⁄3 cup marinade and refrigerate for an hour. Save the remaining marinade for serving. Drain chicken and place on an oiled grill rack over medium heat. Grill the chicken for 4-6 minutes per side. Spoon a little bit of marinade over the chicken and serve. 25
Graduation season is upon us and parents are looking for ways to celebrate their special graduate. Do not worry, there are tons of ways to make the party fun and memorable without breaking the bank. Here are a few must-know graduation party planning ideas.
Use School Pictures Throughout the Years as Centerpieces. Print out and frame every school picture starting from Kindergarten until 12th grade and use them as your table centerpieces.
Let Guests Leave Advice Ask your guests to write down their best piece of advice for the graduate. Whether it be words of wisdom for surviving college or adult living hacks. These notes will hold a special meaning to your senior.
Create a Photo Backdrop Having a fun area for your graduate to take some fun photos with their friends and family is sure to be a hit. Use some old curtains and some “2021” metallic balloons and you are good to go.
Create a Nacho Bar A great cheap meal option for your party is a nacho bar. Lay out some chips and toppings, and toss a sign on the table that says, “nacho average graduate.” How cute is that?
Place Cupcakes in the Shape of the Graduation Year Skip the big expensive cake and use some store-bought cupcakes to spell out 2021. It is quick, easy, tasty, and cost-efficient.
Use the College Flag as a Tablecloth Want to bring some school spirit to the party? Purchase the university flag and use it as table décor. It can be used in your graduate’s dorm room later down the road!
One Smart Cookie What is better than a buffet full of different cookies? The guests will love it! Just create a cute sign that reads “One Smart Cookie” to place on the table.
Polaroid Guest Book Place a Polaroid camera by an empty scrapbook and allow your guests to snap a picture to go into the scrapbook! What a unique twist on the average guestbook. 27
Bring your little ones out to make a flower bouquet. Kids will pick out their very own flowers to design a gift for Mom! We know that Mothers come in a variety of names- this program includes care takers, guardians, grandmas, nanas, mimis and more! Whatever your child calls that special lady in their life– let’s celebrate her! Each child will take home a small bouquet of flowers and a blank card for that special Mom in their life. Registration is required. Space is limited. Lettuce Taco ‘Bout Tuesday! What's a Tuesday without Tacos? Not May 25th at USO Fort Campbell. The Gary Sinise Foundation is Serving Our Heroes - Take Home Taco Tuesday Edition. On May 25th from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. stop by the USO for a take home taco kit for the family. Each kit feeds 4-6 people. Kits include 12 soft flour tortillas, steak, chicken, lettuce, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, rice, beans, sour cream, and a bowl of Moe’s famous queso to share. Oh & who could forget the chips and salsa? All USO services are complimentary to active duty, guard and reserve service members. Check out their webpage for more details about upcoming programming! Fortcampbell.uso.org
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Memorial Day is May 31st, and it is so much more than just a long weekend. The holiday dates back to the mid-1800s and was started to help honor the fallen after the American Civil War ended. It was first known as “Decoration Day” due to the encouragement for citizens to decorate the war hero’s graves. After the end of World War II, it became a federal holiday used to honor all deceased veterans of any war or service instead of just those who had died in the Civil War. This Memorial Day we would like to help honor these fallen heroes by supporting a phenomenal nonprofit called T.A.P.S. It stands for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors. TAPS was created to provide comfort and support to all those grieving the death of a military loved one. It was founded in 1994 and is proud to provide nationwide peer support and grief resources free of charge. TAPS also hosts regional survivor seminars for adults and youth from state to state. They also offer retreats and expeditions for survivors around the world. The amazing staff helps connect these survivors to counseling in their local communities and also helps navigate benefits and resources. In 2020, the non-profit brought together 7,583 newly heartbroken loved ones. These new members joined a strong and brave community of 100,000 existing members. This means that on average, TAPS is assisting 21 new survivors each day. One way to get involved in TAPS and assist this nonprofit this coming Memorial Day is to volunteer. Each year, more than 2,300 volunteers donate 61,000 hours supporting survivors, and you could be one of them. If you are interested in volunteering at any of their life-changing events, please visit volunteer@taps.org. The TAPS program also has the Grateful Nation Memorial Hero Wall where the loved ones of these brave men and women share photographs of their fallen heroes. Seeing the faces of these outstanding heroes is truly touching. If you have lost a member of your family while they were in the line of duty, you can submit their photo for the wall as well. To view the wall or submit a photo, visit www.taps.org/gratefulnation. Did you know that Military Spouses’ have a day dedicated to them? They do! This year, May 8th is National Military Spouse Day, and it is a Presidentially approved holiday! On this day we honor the sacrifices that are made by military spouses every day. Military spouses hold down the fort and take care of things at home so that our soldiers can focus on their important essential missions. There are a few ways to celebrate the special spouse in your life. Here are a few ideas to try at home this year.
Give a military spouse a day off. Whether you know a spouse or are a spouse, having a day to kick your feet up and relax is a great way to celebrate this holiday. Military spouses often juggle multiple tasks at once, so having a day to themselves is worth more than gold.
Surprise them with a gift Sharing a token of appreciation can really make someone feel special. Drop off some flowers or a coffee to your favorite military spouse to bring a smile to their faces.
Make them breakfast in bed. When your soldier is gone, breakfast is left up to the spouses. Allow them to sleep in and make them breakfast in bed, or get it delivered to their doorstep.
Clean the house. Nobody likes chores, and for military spouses, they are often left doing most of them while their soldier is away. Deep clean the house for your military spouse if you can, and if you are away, surprise them by hiring a cleaning service for the day.
Order Groceries for Delivery Grocery shopping can take up a chunk of the day, and if you have kids with you, it can become even more stressful. With apps like Instacart and Walmart Delivery, they can get the groceries delivered right to their doorstep, and that is one less chore on their plates for the week. No matter how you decide to show appreciation to the Military Spouse in your life, they sure will love the fact that you took time to send them some love.