How to Design a Memorial Day Veterans Float

A Memorial Day Parade is a great opportunity to honor the men and women who have served our country. Show respect and patriotism as you finance a Memorial Day Veterans float. As a business, community organization or school aged students, a parade that honors veterans on Memorial Day is a great way to support the troops, and families from your community. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Trailer
• Paint
• Balloons
• Streamers
• Wood
• Bolts
• Flags
• Flag pole
• Poster board
• Markers

1. Find a base for the float. Use either a trailer pulled by a vehicle, or find a convertible for a smaller float. Make posters to attach to all sides of the float. They should have an "honor the veterans" theme. Include the names, ranks and ages of the veterans on your float.
2. Adhere flag poles to an area of the float where there is room for the American Flag. Select emblems, insignia or military flags that represent all the branches of the military. Give out small flags.
3. Set a sound system, if you have a veteran willing to speak, set up speakers on the float. Provide a microphone to the veteran to speak to the crowd as the float travels the parade route.
4. Plan the decorations. Keep decorations simple. Use red, white and blue streamers, balloons and signs. Paint areas of the float with red, white and blue paint. Add streamers, tissue paper or silk flowers to the float.
5. Secure chairs or benches you make out of wood to the float by bolting them down. These are used for seating the veterans you are honoring. Try to get a wide variety of generations when selecting veterans.

Tips & Warnings

• A Veterans float can work for any organization or business, and is a good way to honor those who have served the country. Use the Memorial Day holiday as an opportunity to say thank you to those in your community.
• If you are representing a business, keep advertising to a minimum. Maybe include a small message like "The Store supports our troops."