First established as Decoration Day to observe the sacrifices of those who fought in the Civil War, Memorial Day has become a national holiday to commemorate all men and women who have served in the American military. While there are many ways to celebrate our heroes in the Commonwealth, here are a few things to do this  Memorial Day, May 26:

• Explore the Veterans History Project online. This program collects and preserves firsthand interviews with America’s veterans from World War I onward. You can even participate in the project by conducting your own interviews with veterans and hosting community events to gather veterans’ stories.
• Pay homage to those who fought in Vietnam at Green Hill Park’s beautiful four-acre Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial in Worcester.
• Go to South Boston’s Fort Independence, North America’s oldest continuously fortified fort, for a free guided tour of the Castle Island stronghold.
• Visit a veteran’s cemetery in Massachusetts to honor a veteran with the Memorial Day tradition of leaving red poppies at a gravesite.
• Spend the day at a Blue Star Museum in your area. These museums offer free admission to all active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
• If you don’t normally display the American flag at home, consider doing so for the holiday. Remember to fly the flag at half-staff from sunrise until noon, and to fold it properly before storing it.
• Find local ceremonies, parades, and events for a full Memorial Day this year.

Memorial Day is a time to honor those who have served and sacrificed for our nation. It is also a time to celebrate the successes that came from those sacrifices. However you plan to celebrate Memorial Day, consider observing the National Moment of Remembrance with one minute of silence at 3 p.m.

How are you planning to spend your Memorial Day? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us, @MassGov.

Tags: activities, Boston, children, family, History, Memorial Day, Memorial Day activities, remembrance, veterans