What is your favorite Memorial Day weekend memory?
Memorial Day is a day dedicated to the remembrance of American military personnel killed in service to their country. Families frequently take this day off as an opportunity to visit the graves of their family members, spend time with each other and enjoy the beautiful weather outside. However, BYU students’ answers were surprisingly varied, with answers that ranged from marching in the parade to having a party in England.
Aaron Butler, 23, pre-public relations, junior, Mesa, Ariz., “I spend time with my family and (have) lots of barbecues.”
Andee Roth, 20, exercise wellness, senior, Levenworth, Kan., “My dad’s an Army officer. I just love celebrating with my parents. I enjoy seeing other people realize there’s more going on. People forget why there is a day off.”
Chet Combs, 23, pre-management, junior, St. George, “Probably just going to St. George with friends (and) enjoying the heat.”
Christian Bau, 22, electrical engineering, sophomore, Guayaquil, Ecuador, “I like to gather with my family, remember veterans and drink a traditional purple drink.”
Hailey Gerrard, 20, athletic training, senior, Mapleton, “One time we went river rafting in Moab.”
Harrison Marsh, 18, undecided, freshman, Houston, “One of my birthdays I spent the day with my family.”
Joseph Farrell, 25, economics, 2013 graduate, Washington, D.C., “One Memorial Day I spent a good amount of time researching my grandfather who was in WWII. I found pictures that my family had never seen before.”
Julia Cox, 18, biology, freshman, Rochester, N.Y., “I used to be in marching band in high school. I would march in the seminary band in the Memorial Day parade.”
Kailey Birchall, 21, advertising, junior, Denton, Texas, “One year we did go up to the canyons and had a picnic with the family.”
Kalli Renda, 21, recreation management, senior, University Place, Wash., “I went wave running, that was fun. I just like not having work and school and celebrating our veterans.”
Mike Henderson, 21, pre-advertising, junior, Raleigh, N.C., “In 2011 on my mission, I had a Memorial Day party in England. It was just us colonial rebels having a good time.”
Paul Rogers, 22, genetics and bio-technology, junior, Scottsdale, Ariz., “I don’t know if I ever knew it was Memorial Day. Probably driving to St. George with my family and visiting friends and family there.”
Rebekah Pierce, 18, pre-nursing, junior, Midland, Mich., “Just having barbecues with friends over, playing soccer and just socializing.”
Terrell Timmons, 21, undeclared, sophomore, Parma, Idaho, “Just being with the family. A lot of times we go camping up in the mountains, fishing and all that good stuff.”
Whitney Petersen, 19, advertising, junior, San Diego, “Probably hiking to the top of some mountain in south California and hiking with my family.”
