May
April showers bring May flowers – and May usually brings beautiful, warm weather and fun activities
This month, take time to visit historic sites and celebrate an American holiday. Watch the fastest horses in the country race for victory, and explore a national park. Welcome, and make the most of May in the United States!F
See the “Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports”
The Kentucky Derby horse race ends almost as quickly as it begins – but it’s a thrilling American tradition you won’t want to miss! Held every spring for more than 140 years, the Kentucky Derby is a 1¼-mile race for 3-year-old thoroughbreds held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The Derby is the first of three races held every year that make up the U.S. Triple Crown. The next two races are called the Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes – and a horse must win all three to be the Triple Crown champion. Only 11 horses have accomplished this. Sir Barton was the first in 1919, and Secretariat is the most famous Triple Crown winner (don’t miss the movie!). The most recent Triple Crown winner was American Pharaoh in 2015.
Memorial Day
This holiday originally was created in the 1800s to remember soldiers who died in the American Civil War. Now, on the last Monday of May each year, Americans honor every American soldier who died in military service. On this special day, most businesses and schools are closed. Soldiers’ graves are marked with American flags, and we hold parades to pay tribute to the men and women who bravely sacrificed their lives for their country. Americans hold ceremonies at cemeteries and war memorials all over the nation.
This holiday weekend also marks the unofficial start to summer. To celebrate, friends and families relax in backyards and on beaches. Many host delicious barbeques and enjoy American favorites from the grill: burgers, hot dogs, ribs, and more.
World Hunger Day
Help solve hunger in the U.S. by giving your time and serving the community. Volunteer at a foodbank or soup kitchen on World Hunger Day this month and you will be taking part in helping millions receive the food that they need. Find an opportunity through the Feeding America network, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park was the first national park in America – and the first in the world! Located mostly in Wyoming, it was established in 1872 by President Ulysses S. Grant, and includes more than 2 million acres of dramatic wilderness. Yellowstone has the world’s largest collection of hot springs. In fact, it was founded to protect these springs. Yellowstone’s greatest and most popular hot spring is Old Faithful, which shoots more than 4,000 gallons of boiling water 100 feet into the air every 90 minutes.