Lily’s Memorial Day Parade
Lily woke up to the sound of drums. Boom boom boom! She peeked through the curtains and saw people gathering on the street, many dressed in red, white, and blue.
“Mom! What’s happening?” Lily asked, rubbing her eyes.
“It’s Memorial Day, sweetheart. There’s a parade to honor the brave soldiers who gave their lives for our country,” her mom replied.
Lily had heard of Memorial Day before, but she didn’t really know what it meant.
“Can we go see the parade?” she asked eagerly.
“Of course! Let’s wear our flag pins and take some flowers.”
At the Parade
The street was full of waving flags and smiling faces. Lily saw a marching band, firefighters, kids on bikes with streamers, and even a group of veterans in uniform.
“Who are they?” Lily asked, pointing at the older men and women with medals on their jackets.
“They’re veterans,” said her mom. “They served in the military. Some of their friends didn’t come home—that’s why we remember them today.”
Lily grew quiet. She had never thought about that before.
Meeting Mr. Jenkins
After the parade, Lily and her mom walked over to the park where people were placing flowers near a stone memorial. A man with a cane and a big smile was standing there.
“Hello there,” he said kindly. “I’m Mr. Jenkins. Did you enjoy the parade?”
“Yes!” Lily nodded. “Thank you for being in it.”
Mr. Jenkins chuckled. “I served in the army a long time ago. Today, I remember my best friend, Sam. He was brave and kind. He loved to tell jokes and play baseball.”
Lily placed her flowers by the stone.
“I’m sorry your friend isn’t here,” she said softly.
Mr. Jenkins smiled gently. “Thank you, little one. You remembering him means a lot.”
A Special Lesson
That night, Lily drew a picture of the parade and wrote a note that said, “Thank you to our heroes.”
She hung it on the fridge.
“What does Memorial Day mean to you now?” her mom asked.
Lily thought for a moment. “It means saying thank you to the people who protected us, even if they’re not here anymore.”
Her mom gave her a hug. “That’s exactly right.”
Moral of the Story:
Memorial Day is not just a holiday—it’s a time to remember and honor brave heroes who gave their lives so we can live in peace and freedom.
Category: Kids Story
Target Age: 5–10 years
