Seven pale pebbles in a line, one pen star apieceSeven small pale pebbles, navy. One five-point star in pen on each; they sit in a straight line along a border.
Three fingerprint poppies on pen stemsBare stone, red, black, green. Each flower is four red fingerprints around a black swab dot; thin stems to the base.
REMEMBER in block capitals on grayBare gray stone, white, red. One word across the widest part in white, a single red poppy after the last letter.
Bugle in side view along a stone, bell at the wide endNavy, gold, white. A bugle in side view across a long stone, bell toward the wide end, a white shine line.
Field of swab-dot poppies, thickest at the bottom edgeGreen, red, black. Red cotton swab dots scattered thickest at the bottom edge, a black pen dot in each.
Flag at half height on a tall stoneSky blue, gray, red, white, navy. A pole from base to top rim; a small simplified flag halfway up it.
Folded flag on a triangular stoneNavy, white. The whole triangle is the blue field; white pen stars in offset rows, a white line along each fold.
Four-petal red poppy spread from a black middle to the rimRed, black, green. Four wide petals from a black middle out to the rim, a ring of tiny pen dots around the middle.
HONOR lettered with a poppy for the OWhite, navy, red, black. Four navy capitals and one red poppy the same height standing in the second place.
NEVER FORGOTTEN under one white starNavy, white. A star near the top rim, the two words stacked below it in plain capitals.
Poppies and leaf pairs taking turns around the rimWhite, red, green, black. Poppies and leaf pairs take turns around the rim; the middle is left white.
REMEMBER in block capitals on grayBare gray stone, white, red. One word across the widest part in white, a single red poppy after the last letter.
Seven pale pebbles in a line, one pen star apieceSeven small pale pebbles, navy. One five-point star in pen on each; they sit in a straight line along a border.
Three fingerprint poppies on pen stemsBare stone, red, black, green. Each flower is four red fingerprints around a black swab dot; thin stems to the base.
Three-stripe ribbon folded once into a single loopWhite base, red, blue. One ribbon crossing over itself in a loop, three stripes along its whole length.
WE REMEMBER between two leafy laurel branchesCream, deep green, navy. Two leafy branches curve up from the bottom and nearly meet; the words sit between.
White candle rising from the base of a black stoneBlack, white, yellow, orange. A white candle from the base, a small flame, a soft yellow ring dry-brushed around it.
Thank-you stones 10
FREEDOM in striped capitalsWhite, red, navy. Outline the letters in navy on a long stone, then fill each with thin red stripes.
HOME OF THE BRAVE, one word to a line, down a tall stoneWhite, red, navy. One word to a line down a tall stone, the last word largest and in red.
OUR HERO stacked in the middle of a stone-wide starNavy, white, red. A white star fills the stone; the two words stacked in red in its middle.
PEACE over an olive sprig with three-colored leavesWhite, red, navy, green. The word in navy; an olive sprig under it with leaves in the three colors.
PROUD OF YOU with a star each sideRed, white, navy. White capitals across the middle of a red stone, a navy star at the left and the right.
THANK YOU FOR SERVING on three linesBare stone, white, blue. THANK YOU on the first line, FOR below it, SERVING largest on the third.
THANK YOU on a long stone, a pen flagpole at one endWhite, navy, red. Two words on the left of a long stone, a simplified flag on a pen pole at the right end.
THANK YOU, VETERANS around the rimNavy, white, red. Capitals follow the edge of a round stone; a red, white and blue star in the middle.
WELCOME HOME on a doorstep rockBare big rock, white, red, blue. Two words in large capitals, a line of small stars above and below.
WITH GRATITUDE in looping scriptCream, navy, red. Two words in joined pen lettering on a slant, a thin red underline with a curl.
Stars and fireworks 12
Big star wrapped over the stone's edgesBlue, white. One star so large its five points bend over the sides; only the middle sits on the top.
Firework of dotted lines, dots growing toward the rimBlack, red, white, blue. Dotted lines from one middle point to the rim, the dots growing as they travel out.
Fireworks doubled in dark waterBlack, navy, red, white. A burst in the top half of the stone, a pen waterline, a broken copy of it below.
Five-pebble star laid out on the pathFive pointed pebbles in red, white and blue. Points outward around a sixth round stone painted with one star.
Mixed-size pen stars, some cut off by the stone's rimWhite base, red, navy. Pen stars of mixed sizes all over the top, some cut off by the rim.
Paper pinwheel with four folded blades on a round stoneWhite, red, blue, gray. Four folded blades around a center dot on a round stone, a thin stick to the edge.
Rocket with a spark trail up a tall stoneNavy, red, white, yellow. A striped rocket near the top rim, yellow swab-dot sparks falling to the base.
Solid star touching the pebble's rim at all five pointsNavy, white. One five-point star touching the rim at all five points, filled solid, edges cleaned with a pen.
Sparkler with a shower of white ticksNavy, gray, white, yellow. A thin stick from one corner; short pen ticks in every direction around its tip.
Star confetti over a red pebbleRed, white, navy. Tiny pen stars and dots thrown across the stone, thickest at one end.
Stone-wide star outline with red stripes insideWhite, red, navy. A navy star outline as big as the stone; level red stripes inside it only.
Trio of brush-flick bursts with wobbly trailsBlack, red, silver, blue. Three bursts of brush flicks on a tall stone, a thin wobbly trail under each.
Flags and stripes 12
Eagle head in profile, beak to the narrow endNavy, white, yellow, black. A white head on a navy stone, a hooked yellow beak, one sharp eye.
Fingerprint flag in rows of red printsWhite, red, navy. Simplified: rows of red fingerprints for stripes, a navy thumbprint corner with white swab dots.
Full-height flagpole up one side, flag at the very topSky blue, gray, red, white, navy. A pole up one side to the top rim; a small simplified flag at its top.
Half-circle fan bunting hung from the stone's rimWhite, red, navy. Three half-circle swags in the three colors hang from the rim, a star on each.
Pointed-stone shield: starred navy band over upright stripesNavy, white, red. A navy band with white pen stars across the top third; upright red and white stripes to the point.
Rippling stripes from end to end, a small starred cornerRed, white, navy. Stripes follow two gentle waves from end to end; simplified, with a small starred corner.
Small-stone flag: three red bands, two white, six starsRed, white, navy. Not the real count: three red and two white stripes, a navy corner with six pen stars.
Striped stovepipe hat with a starred band near the brimWhite, red, navy. Tall stone: upright red and white stripes, a navy band with white stars near the base, a brim.
Stripes wrapped right around a tall stoneRed, white, navy. Red and white bands circle the stone; the top is capped navy with white dots.
Thirteen stripes on a blocky stoneRed, white. Seven red and six white level stripes of even width from the top edge to the bottom.
Torch with a gold flame on a tall stoneNavy, gray-green, gold, orange. Handle up the lower half, a cup at the middle, the flame reaching the top.
Triangle pennants strung across the stoneWhite base, red, navy. A sagging pen string from rim to rim; pennants hang from it, one color each in turn.
How it works
Memorial Day honors the military personnel who died while serving, so the 14 Memorial Day rock painting ideas here are quiet: poppies, a flag at half height, one word. The other 34 are thank-you stones, stars and flags.
Read the full guide
What the Memorial Day group holds
Four designs are poppies, the flower the American Legion adopted for remembrance in 1920, such as Three fingerprint poppies on pen stems. Flag at half height on a tall stone follows the custom of the day: the flag stays at half-staff until noon.
4th of July rock painting ideas
Stars and fireworks holds 12 and Flags and stripes 12 more. The flags are simplified and say so, as in Small-stone flag: three red bands, two white, six stars; Thirteen stripes on a blocky stone keeps the real count, seven red and six white.
Questions and answers
What do you paint on a rock for Memorial Day?
A poppy, a flag, a star or one word. The group has 14, such as Four-petal red poppy spread from a black middle to the rim, NEVER FORGOTTEN under one white star and Folded flag on a triangular stone.
When is Memorial Day?
The last Monday of May. It is a United States federal holiday for mourning the military personnel who died while serving, which is why this list keeps its Memorial Day designs apart from the fireworks.
What can a thank-you stone say?
One to four words. The 10 here include THANK YOU, VETERANS around the rim, WELCOME HOME on a doorstep rock and WITH GRATITUDE in looping script. None names a unit, a medal or a person.