Memorial Day 2025
By Chris Petry
While the first day of summer is technically not until the 20th of June, almost everyone considers Memorial Day weekend to be the real kick off of the summer season. By that time, we’ve already experienced some fairly warm days and people have responded to them by stepping up their yardwork, planting flowers and switching out boots and sweaters for V-necks and boat shoes. Can we stop with the boat shoes unless we’re actually boating? Back on track! Memorial Day is a special time.
What makes Memorial Day special? Well, first there’s the true, or Federal, understanding of the holiday which is paying homage to the fallen men and women of the U.S. military. Of course, without them, no other activity over the weekend would be possible. Or, at the very least, it would look a bit different. That means the imagery we often associate with the weekend is that of Old Glory, blowing in the wind. There’s also the red poppy. Each poppy made to represent a serviceperson who lost their life in the line of duty.
Secondly, Memorial Day (as we mentioned in paragraph one) is viewed as the first weekend of summer. That, of course, means it’s often the first gathering since the end of the cold season. People will be firing up the grills, tossing a frisbee to the dog, kicking back a few brewskies and opening their pools. Well, that last one might wait another week or two based on the current weather conditions! High school graduations are right around the corner and so is the beginning of travel and vacation season. In other words, people are in the mood to get out and about again and that’s a cause for celebration all on its own.
Social activity certainly surges come Memorial Day and retailers are on standby. Sale after sale after sale. Clothes, shoes, cars, pet supplies, pool supplies, seasonal food items, mattresses… it’s all ON SALE! Every wrap on every publication will be plastered with big red and yellow letters saying things like, “Buy Now,” “Deal of the Year,” “Blow Out,” “Save Big” and “Get it Before it’s Too Late.” We know it’s nothing more than sensationalist advertising to sell us stuff we don’t even need but, caught up in the fervor of the season, we’re going to buy it anyway. Cause’, America! Stars and Stripes. Buy Now, Pay Later. I guarantee I’ll slide a barbecue sauce-laden finger over “Add to Cart” at least three times before Monday morning.
In the field of real estate, many buyers will be taking advantage of the long weekend to ramp up their home search. Or, to view homes. Some of those buyers might be travelling for the holiday and hope to view properties in the places they’re travelling to. That’s good news for sellers. Even if the deluge of rain we’ve experienced so far this month has been limiting, in terms of the ability to get outside and work on improving our homes’ curb appeal. If someone’s looking for a home over a holiday weekend, they’re probably serious about it. Otherwise, they’d be vying for Joey Chestnut’s most-prestigious designation from the comfort of their patio.
Finally, what makes Memorial Day so special? It’s the spirit. The spirit of comradery. The spirit of hope and gratitude. The spirit those brave souls who fell on the battlefield fought with and for. Family, fun, freedom. All that. Here we are, celebrating. Taking in the simple pleasures of life and paying reverence to those who made it all possible. There’s magic in the air. This Memorial Day weekend, please remember to stop and feel it.
