Val: Nothing is more American than holiday traditions. And, besides visiting the cemetery to pay tribute to fallen soldiers and deceased ancestors, no Memorial Day tradition is more widespread and popular than the family barbecue.

All across Utah and throughout the country, families gathered on Monday evening to experience the best that outdoor grilling has to offer. From gourmet hamburgers and hot dogs to more exotic fare like steaks and shish kabobs, would-be chefs everywhere donned aprons, grabbed spatulas and fired up their grills to try to impress their diners.

Have you ever stopped to think what this holiday tradition of eating together as a family on Memorial Day means to the economy? Grocery stores everywhere were bulging at the seams on Saturday and Monday. From what I could see, most everyone in Utah Valley made at least one trip to the grocery store over the weekend.

Then there are the floral arrangements purchased to place on the graves of loved ones. Stores and nurseries sell thousands of mums and other colorful flowers to be placed on graves. Cemeteries are transformed into oceans of color with the addition of the flowers, flags, windmills, etc.

Another boost to the economy happens when millions of Americans take to the highways to visit loved ones or enjoy a three-day weekend. Memorial Day has to be one of the most heavily traveled days of the year. Of course, that is both a curse and a blessing. The good comes from families being together and the positive boost to the economy that the travel produces. The negative comes from the many accidents that happen and lives that are lost on the highways over the weekend.

As a young boy, our family had a tradition of following the Indianapolis 500 Race that was always run on Memorial Day. We would listen to the race on the radio and cheer for our favorite drivers. The family member whose car won the race was awarded a malted milkshake, although I’m not sure we ever collected.

Perhaps my most memorable Memorial Day was 1981 when I spent the morning at Arlington National Cemetery. Seeing thousands of flags on the graves and watching the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier made a lasting impression on me. Vice President George H.W. Bush was the speaker that beautiful spring morning in Virginia. It brought it all home. Memorial Day is about honoring veterans. It’s about family and food. And it’s about wonderful traditions.

Donna: Val has eloquently described the rich experience of Memorial Day. For some it is a difficult day as loved ones are mourned and remembered. Sometimes even those who are still with us need a little reminder that they have made a difference in the lives around them as well. I am the daughter of a retired Naval officer and nuclear engineer. My father introduced me to the space program, nautical navigation and astronomy before I could even read. We come from a long line of military men. The deeper I dig the longer the chain. I’ve made it to the Revolutionary War, and in each generation my father’s fathers served in one branch or another of the U.S. military.

On Memorial Day, we have such a great opportunity to look through history and in our own families to honor men and women who fought for freedom. I do have a bit of trouble explaining to my Canadian husband why Memorial Day is celebrated with backyard BBQ and chips and salsa.

I think Americans get out and grill chicken and hot dogs, because that’s how we say ‘life is good.’ We take one last look back at winter, putting fresh flowers over those monuments that spent the winter buried in snow and then we welcome in summer. The official first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere may technically fall on June 21st, but for Americans everywhere summer starts the last Monday of May. Pools open, park bathrooms open, schools almost out, summer festivals begin, and the season of barbecue commences.

So while we honor our departed loved ones, we also celebrate what lays ahead. When you think about it, or try to describe it to someone from Canada, Memorial Day is a beautiful chance to spend time with family, visit graves, plant flowers and make new memories with the loved ones right here with you. From sunburns to smoked baby back ribs, it is the season opener for summer.

• Val Hale is the president of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce. Donna Milakovic is the vice president of the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce.

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