Memorial Day is a federal holiday that recognizes American men and women who have died in military service to their country. It’s observed on the last Monday in May. Memorial Day also marks the end of the school year and the beginning of summer vacation. But the day was originally established to honor Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. It was later expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. People usually celebrate this holiday by visiting cemeteries, memorials and monuments. There’s a moment of silence around 3 p.m. each year to remember the fallen.

Memorial Day is also a popular time for picnics, parades and other get-togethers with loved ones. A good way to take part in the festivities is to create and buy your very own custom T-shirt. The process of designing and ordering a one-of-a-kind shirt isn’t difficult at all.

First you need to pick the type of shirt you want to wear. There’s literally hundreds of colors and styles to choose from. Short sleeve, long sleeve, collared polos, tank tops, spaghetti-strap tops, sweatshirts and more.

Then there’s the fabric. Do a little research, and you’ll find most shirts come in a 100 percent pre-shrunk cotton. Some are created from a cotton/polyester blend. There’s also combed cotton, ringspun cotton and jersey. Organic cotton is becoming hugely popular, and that comes in heavyweight or lightweight versions. Egyptian cotton is very nice, but costs a little more.

Sizing can get a little tricky because it varies from dealer to dealer. Typical sizes range from small to XXXL. Small is 28 inches in length, and 18 inches in width. XXXL is 32 inches in length and 28 inches in width.

Once you pick a color (and they have a bunch to choose from) it’s time to start designing your custom T-shirt. Since this is a shirt you plan to wear for Memorial Day, your best bet would be to choose a shirt in red, white, or blue.

Your next step is to add some text. You can come up with a word or phrase on your own, or use one provided below:

Liberty has a price
Freedom isn’t free
Lest we forget
Remember those who served
All gave some, some gave all
Land of the free, courtesy of the brave
Hooray for our heroes
Together we stand

Once you know what you want to say, you need to pick the most effective font, text size and color. Then you should place it on the shirt so that it’s visible and pleasing to look at.

Have some room left over? Why not add a picture appropriate to Memorial Day, like an American flag or a bald eagle? It’s easy to find these icons on the internet for free, or purchase them for a minimal cost.

Once you’ve pulled all these elements together, you’ll own a T-shirt no one else will be wearing at the next Memorial Day picnic or parade.