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© 2012 Universal Uclick release dates: May 19-25 20-1 (12) from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Please include all of the appropriate registered trademark symbols and copyright lines in any publication of The Mini Page ® . To order, send $9.95 plus $3.50 postage and handling for each copy. Send check or money order (U.S. funds only) payable to: Andrews McMeel Universal, P.O. Box 6814, Leawood, KS 66206 or call toll-free 1-800-591-2097. Please send ______ copies of The Mini Page Guide to the Constitution (Item #0-7407-6511-6) at $13.45 each, total cost. (Bulk discount information available upon request.) www.smartwarehousing.com Name: ________________________________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________ City: _________________________________________ State: _________ Zip: ________________ The popular nine-part series on the Constitution, written in collaboration with the National Archives, is now packaged as a colorful 32-page softcover book. The series covers: • the preamble, the seven articles and 27 amendments • the “big ideas” of the document • the history of its making and the signers The Mini Page ® Guide to the Constitution Memorial Day Honoring Our Fallen Americans have a special holiday coming up next week, Memorial Day. Many people think of it as a time to get together with friends and kick off the summer season. But this holiday has a more serious meaning, too. A memorial helps keep memories alive. It reminds us of people and events. Have you visited memorials in your city or on your travels? For people in the United States, Memorial Day honors the memory of the men and women who have lost their lives while serving our country. Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May. This year it falls on May 28. The holiday started after the Civil War. It was called Decoration Day because families went to graveyards and placed flags, flowers and wreaths on the graves of soldiers who had lost their lives. Veterans’ groups, often with the help of children, still decorate gravesites in cemeteries around the world. There are also parades, speeches and church services on Memorial Day. Buglers play “Taps,” a special bugle call played at burials and memorial services. Moment of Remembrance Since 2000, the country has observed a national moment of silence at 3 p.m. (local time) on Memorial Day. At that time, people are asked to stop what they are doing and think about those who have died in service to the United States. On Memorial Day 2009, President Obama places a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. The tomb is a memorial to Americans who lost their lives fighting for our country. Three unidentified servicemen, one each from World War I, World War II and Korea, are buried there. As a sign of mourning and respect, the American flag is flown at half-staff until noon on Memorial Day. A famous poem In 1915, a Canadian doctor, Lt. Col. John McCrae, was serving in France during World War I. He composed one of the most famous war poems ever written. Here is the first verse: In Flanders Fields In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard among the guns below. photo courtesy Arlington National Cemetery Words that remind us of Memorial Day are hidden in the block below. Some words are hidden backward or diagonally, and some letters are used twice. See if you can find: CEMETERY, DAY, DECORATION, FLAG, HALF-STAFF, HONOR, MEMORIAL, MILITARY, PARADE, PATRIOTISM, POEM, POPPY, REMEMBRANCE, SALUTE, SERVICE, TAPS, TOMB, TRADITION, VETERAN, WARS. Memorial Day TRY ’N FIND GIVE A SALUTE TO OUR VETS! F H J M S I T O I R T A P M Y F L O V M S R A W O Y A V E R A S A N E G A X M N R Y E M E T E H G O K D B U A A P T O T S R F L P R I J D C T P E R E F V S A L U T E A V I O R I M L I S P A T I H Y T L P A A E A C R D E C O R A T I O N L C H E M V E C N A R B M E M E R from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Basset Brown The News Hound’s TM Ready Resources from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick The Mini Page provides ideas for websites, books or other resources that will help you learn more about this week’s topics. On the Web: • va.gov/kids/k-5/index.asp?intSiteID=2 • arlingtoncemetery.mil • bensguide.gpo.gov/3-5/symbols/index.html At the library: • “Memorial Day” by Jacqueline S. Cotton • “H Is for Honor: A Military Family Alphabet” by Devin Scillian from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Symbols of Remembrance We use many different symbols to show our patriotism* and to honor those who have served our country. The Mini Page shares some facts and traditions surrounding our country’s symbols. Poppies In 1915, a professor in Georgia was inspired by the poem “In Flanders Fields.” Moina Michael decided to wear red poppies on each Memorial Day. She sold the flowers to friends to raise money for servicemen. The red poppy became a symbol of Memorial Day. The burial flag When a veteran of the U.S. armed forces dies, his or her family is entitled to a special flag that can be used to drape the casket. It is furnished to honor the memory of the veteran’s military service to our country. You may see special markers on gravesites in your town’s cemetery that show a person served in our armed forces. This is another way we honor veterans. *Patriotism is the support of our country. A patriot is someone who is willing to defend his or her country. At Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., soldiers place a small flag on each grave before Memorial Day. This ceremony is known as “flags in.” To honor the men and women who have served our country, there are special cemeteries in the U.S. and around the world where veterans may be buried. After a military funeral, the flag used to drape the casket is folded in a special way and presented to the family of the fallen service member. The family gets to keep the flag. DoD photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Robert Benson, U.S. Navy photo courtesy Arlington National Cemetery photo by Vera Kratochvil from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Hannah: What was the heroic daisy awarded? Harry: A petal of honor! Henry: Why did the meatball get a medal? Herbert: Because it was part of a hero sandwich! TM All the following jokes have something in common. Can you guess the common theme or category? Harriet: What did the caveman say when he saw a man row a boat for the first time? Hillary: “He-row”! Mini Spy . . . Mini Spy and her friends are visiting Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day. See if you can find: • elephant head • sailboat • strawberry • letter L • two hearts • sheep • bell • word MINI • dog • cat • frog • two birds • man in • doughnut • umbrella • teapot the moon • owl • number 2 • tooth • olive from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick TM Rookie Cookie’s Recipe Surprise Rice Casserole You’ll need: • 1 cup uncooked brown rice (regular or instant) • 2 tablespoons butter or margarine • 1 (8-ounce) can crushed pineapple, undrained • 1 tablespoon brown sugar • 1 /2 teaspoon salt • 1 /2 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese • 1 /4 cup sliced almonds What to do: 1. Cook rice according to directions. 2. Stir in butter until melted. Add pineapple, brown sugar and salt. 3. Spray a shallow, medium baking pan with cooking spray. Spoon rice mixture into pan. 4. Sprinkle with cheese; top with sliced almonds. 5. Bake for 15 minutes until cheese is melted. Serves 6. You will need an adult’s help with this recipe. from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick TM from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Meet Orange Sherbet Orange Sherbet sings the praises of eating seasonal, locally grown foods. Their newest CD is “Delicious.” The band is made up of musicians Jill Pierce, Tamsen Fynn and Steve Pierce. Since they were kids, Jill and Tamsen both studied musical theater, singing and education. Steve began playing guitar in rock bands when he was 12. Jill and Steve have taught music to kids in the San Francisco Bay area for years. They often write songs for kids on the spot. Jill grew up in Norwalk, Conn. Steve went to junior high and high school in New Canaan, Conn. Tamsen was born in England and grew up in Nicaragua and America. She got involved with the Eat Local Challenge in the San Francisco area with her husband, a professional baker. This inspired her to write music for “Delicious.” photo by Nick Fynn Tamsen, Steve, Jill from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick The Mini Page Staff Betty Debnam - Founding Editor and Editor at Large Lisa Tarry - Managing Editor Lucy Lien - Associate Editor Wendy Daley - Artist The U.S. has been involved in many wars over our history. The Mini Page reviews the number of service members and the battle deaths for each war, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. In each war, there were also many others who were wounded and others who lost their lives, but not on the battlefield. Mexican-American War (1846-1848) Service members: 78,718 Battle deaths: 1,733 Civil War (1861-1865) Service members (Union): 2,213,363 Battle deaths: 140,414 Service members (Confederate): 600,000 to 1,500,000 Battle deaths: 74,524 Spanish-American War (1898-1902) Service members: 306,760 Battle deaths: 385 World War I (1917-1918) Service members: 4,734,991 Battle deaths: 53,402 World War II (1941-1945) Service members: 16,112,566 Battle deaths: 291,557 Korean War (1950-1953) Service members: 1,789,000 Battle deaths: 33,739 Vietnam War (1964-1975) Service members: 3,403,000 Battle deaths: 47,434 Persian Gulf War (1990-1991) Service members: 694,550 Battle deaths: 148 American Revolution (1775-1783) Service members: 184,000 to 250,000 Battle deaths: 4,435 War of 1812 (1812-1815) Service members: 286,730 Battle deaths: 2,260 Indian Wars (about 1817-1898) Service members: 106,000 Battle deaths: 1,000 America’s Wars Afghanistan and Iraq Wars In 2001, after the attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City, the United States and other countries began a war against terrorist groups in Afghanistan. That war continues today, with 800,000 having served and more than 1,900 Americans having lost their lives. The Iraq War began in March 2003 and ended in December 2011. Out of more than 1 million service members who served there, 4,487 lost their lives. USMC Lance Cpl. Leobardo Nunez provides security in an Afghan village in March. DoD photo by Cpl. Alfred V. Lopez, U.S. Air Force. Next week, The Mini Page explores the transit of Venus, when the planet passes between the sun and Earth. The Mini Page thanks Jennifer Lynch with Arlington National Cemetery for help with this issue. Look through your newspaper for Memorial Day events. U.S. Air Force photo photo by Pfc. James Cox, U.S. Army photo courtesy U.S. military PHC D. W. Holmes II, U.S. Navy from The Mini Page © 2012 Universal Uclick Supersport: Bryan Clay Height: 5-11 Birthdate: 1-3-80 Weight: 185 Hometown: Austin, Texas The Olympic torch won’t be lighted until late July, but Bryan Clay’s competitive fire is already aflame. Having won a silver medal (2004) and a gold (2008), the versatile Clay can become the first three-time medal winner in the Olympic decathlon. He’ll be going for gold again in track and field’s most demanding challenge, a grueling 10-event test of endurance and skill. The decathlon champion is traditionally called “the world’s greatest athlete.” But Clay is more than a renowned athlete. He’s known for using his fame as a platform to “build champions and change lives” through his foundation. Tune in this summer. Clay could be on the Olympic platform again, with another gold medal around his neck. TM
