Memorial Day Celebrations

By: Tyler Elzholz and Jaiden Basinger

May 28, 2021

There are many fun games to participate in when Memorial Day rolls around. Many have their own traditions and ways to celebrate this holiday because it is a time when families get together to give thanks to those who served and did not make it home, reflect, eat, and play.  

So, what are the most popular Memorial Day games? According to Our Family World, the following ranked as the top five. 

1. Potato Sack Races: When you think of potato sack races, you think of a kids’ game, but it is not just for kids; adults can participate, too. You need a good pillow case and enough room for you to jump all over the place to destroy your opponent(s). 

2. Cornhole: Many people know it as “bean bag toss”. The goal is to get the bean bags inside of the hole or land on the board. The front ends of the two boards must be 27 feet apart. If you get the bean bag on the board, the team will receive one point. If the bean bag lands in the hole, the team is awarded three points.

3. Horseshoes: The goal of this game is to throw the horseshoe and make it wrap around the pole; the game goes up to 21 points, similar to cornhole. The closest horseshoe to the stake gets one point. If you have two shoes closer than any of your opponents, your team gets two points.

4. Giant Jenga: You can make this game by yourself with 56 planks of wood measuring at 8x3x2 feet. You play the game just like the mini version where you take a plank off of the stack and put it on top without knocking the tower down. If you knock the tower down, you lose and have to restack the tower.

5. Giant Twister: For this game, all you need is spray paint as the same colors of a twister board, a giant piece of cardboard with holes cut out, and a spinner board. Use the spinner, see the chosen limb (hands or feet), move to the chosen color, and do not fall over. This game is really comical when multiple individuals are on the board at the same time.

Now that the top five Memorial Day games have been explained, we decided to rank our top five, too.

*Jaiden Basinger’s top five Memorial Day games:

1. Cornhole: As mentioned before, this game is a really fun game to play, and my family always plays this game and has a great time while doing so. I truly like the game because it brings out teamwork with your teammate because if he/she does not do well, then victory will not occur.

2. Kan Jam: The game is two cans across from each other about 50 feet apart. You are trying to toss a frisbee inside the slot that is created in the can. When you throw the frisbee and it is close enough for your teammate to help, he/she can help by pushing the frisbee towards the can. 

3. Basketball: Who does not love and enjoy a little hoops competition?

4. Frisbee: In my family, we make each other run after the frisbee because we are not very good at it, but it’s still fun and entertaining.

5. Sand Volleyball: Volleyball on sand?  Sign me up!  My cousins play volleyball, so it is not easy trying to beat them. 

*Tyler Elzholz’s top five Memorial Day games:

1. Cornhole: My family likes to play tournaments and see which two family members are the “best in the family”. It is a good time, especially towards the end when the last two teams are fighting for the win. 

2. Football: My uncles and I usually play against each other with my cousins; it is competitive and more fun than actually trying to win. Although, at times, it does get a little out of control with the little ones, and we end up shutting it down. 

3. Kickball: The whole family gets involved with this game. We set up bases around the backyard, similar to a baseball diamond. Someone from each team is alway the pitcher; this is the person who rolls the ball to home plate. If the ball is thrown at you or if you are tagged with the ball, you are out! 

4. Kan Jam: Jaiden and his family like to play this game as well. It is a rather simple game and fun for the whole family, although my family likes to make things difficult and push the cans really far back to see if we can play the game that way. Overall, this is one of my favorite games to play.

5. Basketball: I am usually the only one in the family who enjoys getting shots up, so I challenge my uncles frequently. It is usually a short, fifteen-minute game to 11. Most of the time, I win, but on occasion, they win a game or two. 

On behalf of the entire Brooklyn City School District, Hurricane Nation hopes that everyone stays safe and enjoys their time with loved ones over this upcoming, three-day weekend. 

Most importantly, though, we must remember those who were lost while actively-serving our country. This price, we can never repay, and those who perished will never be forgotten!