Everyone gets together for Memorial Day – It’s what we do! We grill out, we set up the barbeque, we roll out cold drinks, we often go to the lake if we can… It’s a fun holiday where we get time off work, and there is usually a parade and a commemoration service to honor our veterans.  This Memorial Day, try the following fun trivia questions at your get-together:

1. What do bumblebees and the Air Force have in common?

Answer: The Air Force used aerodynamics discovered during research on bumblebees on their F-117 fighter.

2. Just because you “remember the Alamo,” doesn’t mean you know what the word means in Spanish. What does Alamo mean in Spanish?

Answer: cottonwood

3. What is the only animal in the world that can’t jump?

Answer: the elephant

4. True or false: A duck’s quack doesn’t echo.

Answer: True! (But no one knows why.)

5. Which U.S. State is closest to Bermuda?

Answer: North Carolina

6. Of all the “Founding Fathers” who signed the Declaration of Independence, how many of them went on to become U.S. Presidents? (Bonus if you can name them!)

Answer: Two – Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.

7. We know the famous line, but what was the actual first word spoken on the moon?

Answer: Houston.

“Houston. Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has Landed.” – Neil Armstrong’s first words back to base when his shuttle landed on the moon.

8. On a clear night, about how many stars do you think the average human eye can see?

Answer: 2000-3000 stars! (You can bet most people will be WAAAAAY off!)

9. What is the ONLY substance on earth that is lighter as a solid than as a liquid?

Answer: Water.

and…

10. True or False: There are over 250 ways to make change for a dollar.

Answer: True! There are actually 293 different ways to make change for a dollar.

Now, when you start throwing out trivia questions left and right, it would be fun to sweeten the pot by offering an incentive to winning at trivia. However you decide to celebrate this Memorial Day, be sure to keep it fun while remembering the reasons behind the holiday.

What is greatness, anyway? Commencement can be such a toss-up for so many. It’s a reward, an acknowledgement of achievement, whether from high school or college, it indicates a great work was accomplished and that those walking on the stage to receive diplomas are walking off the stage with the potential to achieve success.

Amidst all the urgings for greatness, it seems that the answer to what it is is more often than not, implied. Some speeches are, unfortunately, less than memorable. The ones that are, though, seem to capture a few specific elements like keeping the time to under 18 minutes. The students want to walk across that stage, receive their diploma, and then go celebrate not being students anymore. After all, it is graduation. Also, speak slowly and articulately. A crowd is easily lost by a speaker they can’t understand.

It’s not so easy, however, to convey or teach the other elements of a great commencement speech, like the one that is universal among the real classics: being completely and utterly yourself. Stephen Colbert and Ellen DeGeneres gave great ones, and never tried to pretend they weren’t comedians for their day job. Winston Churchill’s address was, indisputably, by Winston Churchill.

Counting down the following five classic commencements and trying to understand what makes them so great, one other thing to pay attention to is that in each one, the speakers did something to startle those in the audience. Whether it was with an anecdote, a joke, or even coarse language, these addresses live in fame (and infamy) as some of the most commanding and impressive.

5. Winston Churchill, Harrow School, 1941

“Do not let us speak of darker days: let us speak rather of sterner days. These are not dark days; these are great days—the greatest days our country has ever lived; and we must all thank God that we have been allowed, each of us according to our stations, to play a part in making these days memorable in the history of our race.”

4. Jon Stewart, College of William and Mary, 2004

“College is something you complete. Life is something you experience. So don’t worry about your grade, or the results or success. Success is defined in myriad ways, and you will find it, and people will no longer be grading you, but it will come from your own internal sense of decency which I imagine, after going through the program here, is quite strong…although I’m sure downloading illegal files…but, nah, that’s a different story.

Love what you do. Get good at it. Competence is a rare commodity in this day and age. And let the chips fall where they may.”

3. Neil Gaiman, University of the Arts at Philadelphia, 2012: Make Good Art

“Life is sometimes hard. Things go wrong, in life and in love and in business and in friendship and in health and in all the other ways that life can go wrong. And when things get tough, this is what you should do.

Make good art.”

2. John F. Kennedy, American University, 1963

“So let us not be blind to our differences, but let us also direct attention to our common interests and the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s futures. And we are all mortal.”

1. Steve Jobs, Stanford College, 2005

“Again, you can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

Why are these speeches so memorable? What makes them “great”?

It’s simple, really: The speakers avoided cliches and told their audiences things that were important that were also things that they could believe.

 The Big Entrance

A garland of American flags flapping in the breeze instills a sense of awe and respect amongst the gaiety

With an event this formal, the entrance is as important as the setting once the guests are inside. Make sure everyone’s arrival is memorable and invokes the honor and prestige of attendance. A flag garland outside the event location paves the way for the transformation just inside, with a formal coatroom and reception area tastefully illuminated with tissue paper lanterns and patriotic-themed columns of red, white, and blue, leading the way into the main event area.

Set the Tables for Talking

Lots of conversation happens across the table once the formal dinner has begun, so this is a time to avoid large, showy centerpieces and instead opt for elegant yet understated pieces.  Try several silver reflection centerpieces at each table. You can fill them with elegant red roses, or red, white, and blue flowers, or even flowers with the military unit’s guidon or post colors. Surround them with an assortment of candles, as the reflective surface of the centerpiece will work with the candles to create an illuminating and stunning effect for graceful and practical table décor.

Keep the Occasion in Mind

It’s fun to decorate and plan events, albeit quite stressful at times. You can find easy inspiration by thinking of the event as a 4^th of July themed affair, but always be sure to match the patriotic fervor with an inspired eye for muted elegance. You don’t want to outshine the guests, and etiquette dictates that their outfits are not too loud, so pair the requisite classic fashion with subtle effects to plan a decorating scheme that will look like it was professionally planned. Create areas around the ballroom for conversation and networking with pairs or trios of luminescent columns.

Light up the Night

Finally, mirror the flickering elegance of the table pieces with easy-to-arrange lighting effects that would make even the most intricate of fireworks themselves become lit up with jealousy. Curtains lit with LEDs, placed behind various layers of gossamer in shades of royal blue, brilliant red, and pure, confident white, transform even the most drab event location into a tasteful, stylish, and premiere celebration of the hard work and dedication of military personnel.

Following these decorating tips (and adding bits and pieces of your own insightful flair) will earn you your 4 stars and top honors with your gala, for sure.

Capture the patriotic fervor of the 4th of July within the magic of the military ball

Twenty Roaring Tips

1. Set the scene for your Gatsby-like event with the proper decorations. Gold, black, and silver metallic gossamer will help you achieve the look of decadence that goes with the Roaring Twenties.
2. Start on the right foot: send out Gatsby-themed invitations for your event!
3. Take the invitations one step further: when your guests RSVP, ask for the number of guests that will be attending. Then send out personalized tickets for your Gatsby event—they’ll be able to keep the tickets as a fun souvenir!
4. Always remember: No event is complete without balloons! To match your metallic gossamer and other metallic decorations, use metallic latex balloons.
5. Make sure to have enough tableware and punch glasses on hand!
6. Look for a punch bowl for your refreshment table that will fit in with your Roaring Twenties theme.
7. If you have a refreshment table, hang a fun Speakeasy sign on it!
8. Play music that fits the theme—big band jazz will be perfect for your Gatsby party!
9. If your event is large enough to have a wait staff, have them dress like gangsters and flappers!
10. Either request that your guests arrive in formal attire or in 20s fashion.
11. It’s not a party without some dress-up time! Have black fedoras on hand for your gangster men and feather boas for your flapper ladies!
12. Wearable party props are great, but what about props that your guests can take with them? Have funny money on hand, both for decorations and for souvenirs!
13. When you put together your favor bags, don’t forget to choose favors that reflect the theme of the party—Art Deco compact mirrors are a great choice for your Gatsby event!
14. If your event will involve kids, have a fun favor for them to play with—stacks of foil gold bars that double as favor boxes are a great way to keep kids occupied and entertained.
15. Select other party favors that fit the theme of your event.
16. As you put together favor bags, remember the personalized stickers, mint tins, and a variety of gold, silver, and black beads.
17. If you hire a photographer, ask for them to dress in the attire of the era—it will get them involved in the fun and keep your theme going.
18. Make sure your guests have fun—take a classic picture to remember the event and then also take a fun, 20s-themed picture.
19. Make sure to include a personalized frame in the favor bags for your guests to display their memories.
20. Finally, don’t forget to send out thank you notes!

Costume Contest

The dance is over and the dresses and tuxes have come off. But what will everyone wear to the After Prom? Make the decision easy for them and have a costume contest that fits with the After Prom theme. Most After Proms have a theme totally separate from the dance. It could be an 80’s theme where guests can wear their biggest hair and wildest makeup, or maybe a luau where guests show up in grass skirts and leis. Have a costume contest and award the best outfit that fits with the theme.

Dance Contest

Sure everyone has been dancing all night at the prom, but this is a contest that will see who the true dancers of the school really are. Since most people will be tired of dancing, see who can handle the pressure of dancing even more in some sort of dance-off. Either elect judges to determine who stays and who goes, or have cheers from the crowd determine the supreme dancing champion.

Guess the Teacher Contest

This is a fun contest for students and teachers. Have faculty and staff bring in pictures from their prom. Post them on the wall and number them. Throughout the night, allow students to look at the pictures and try and match each teacher to their photo. Close the contest down about 30 minutes before the end of After Prom to allow time to go through the entries. Whoever correctly matched the most wins! If there’s a tie, throw the names in a hat and pull out a winner.

Prom Dress Contest

Sure the girls spent hours and hours looking for the perfect dress, but what if they only had a few minutes… and toilet paper? Have a contest where groups of 3-4 are given a few rolls of toilet paper and they have to create a toilet paper prom dress on one of their group members. Have After Prom chaperones pick the winning dress.

Hula Hoop Contest

It might be right out of the 50’s, but sometimes there’s nothing more entertaining than a hula hoop contest! See who can last the longest, who can walk and hula hoop, who can hula hoop the fastest, etc. To make things even more entertaining, have teachers participate in this wacky contest.

Karaoke Contest

They’ve danced the night away, now let them sing! But don’t just have a regular karaoke contest, add some excitement to it! Consider having categories of music like rock, R&B, oldies, hip hop, and country. You might also want to award prizes based on other things like “Best Solo Male,” “Best Solo Female,” “Best Group,” and “Best Overall Performance.” The performances should have students and staff impressed with the talent or at least laughing at those who think they have it!

Contest for Change

This contest would involve some planning and advertising in the weeks leading up to prom. Have students collect change/coins from home and from people they know. Whoever brings the most change to After Prom is the winner. The great thing about this contest is that the money can go to a charity. Have a list of charitable organizations and let the winner decide where everyone’s change will go. (Note: make sure you deposit the change and give the charity a check.)

Pie Eating Contest

Everyone has looked so nice all night. It’s time to get messy! Pick up some pies from a local grocery store and see who can finish the quickest. You might want to divide the contest into girls and guys, or divide it by grade. Have a champion from each division and whoever finished in the quickest time overall is the ultimate pie-eating champion!