Though the main point of Memorial Day is to commemorate the men and women that sacrificed their lives in military service, this holiday also marks the beginning of the summer season. 

National Backyard Games Week begins today, on the Monday prior to Memorial Day. This week-long observance was made popular by Patch Products (no relation to this Patch) to encourage physical activity for children and adults alike. 

With over 30 parks in the cities of Cerritos and Artesia alone, there is plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors. Use the following list of games to take time out of this week to get out and play!

Wet and Wild 
Run through the sprinklers, throw your water balloons, and refill those super soakers! Beat the summer heat with games that can cool you down. However, the city parks seem to frown upon people filling their water balloons in park restrooms, so you may want to refrain from using them at the park or simply fill the balloons before you leave home. 

The Bouncy Ball 
This toy is a relic of every person's childhood and it is readily available at most grocery, toy, and general stores during the summer season. Bring back all the skills you developed in grade school playing dodgeball, handball, kickball, and foursquare. With a bouncy ball, the possibilities are endless. 

Tag, You're It!
This may be the oldest game in the book, but due to the many different versions of the sport, tag will never lose its appeal. There is just something innately fun about running for dear life to avoid the person that is "it." In the beginning, there was just tag. Now, there is hide-and-seek, freeze tag, and (the latest incarnation) glow-stick tag - designed for people that want to run around in the dark. 

Conventional Sports 
If it ain't broke, don't fix it. If you already have a sport that you know, love, and actively play, then keep going! Volleyball, baseball, and basketball are all great games that really get the heart pumping. Use the Cerritos-Artesia Patch Places page to search the local parks and find out which locations have sand pits for volleyball, fields for baseball, and courts for basketball. Alternatively, you can change some rules and play a simplified version of the game in the comfort of your own backyard. 

Try Something New 
National Backyard Games Week is meant to get people out of the house and the celebration is not limited to games that can be played in your backyard. This is a great opportunity to try something new. Whether you're interested in trying paintballing, Bollywood dance, or Frisbee golf, Cerritos and Artesia have all the things you will need, so just get out there and move! 

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National Backyard Games Week ends with Memorial Day and no matter how hard you play, don't forget to reflect on the lives lost by our military men and women. Cerritos be hosting a Memorial Day Ceremony on Monday, May 30 at 10AM at the Cerritos Civic Center. The City will have a presentation of colors, comments from City Council members, a wreath laying, and a moment of silence to commemorate those we've lost.