Memorial Day weekend is a particularly special time for many people. We remember America s fallen heroes and put our patriotism on full display. The Jeep brand is especially proud of its American heritage and the role that we ve played in our country s honorable pursuit of freedom. Memorial Day weekend is also a great time to get together with family, take the top off of your Jeep vehicle, and celebrate the start of summer.

In that spirit, we give to you our (partial) list of weekend essentials - from food and drink to accessories for your Jeep (we ll assume that your sense of adventure and Go Anywhere, Do Anything attitude comes standard). 

1.Mopar Spare Tire Cover - There s Only One - Your Jeep is a patriotic symbol in and of itself, but you can always take it to the next level with this American flag spare tire cover from Mopar.

2. Cooler - Every off-road adventure requires food and drink. Memorial Day weekend festivities practically require a cooler. Invest in a good one (and make sure you have tie-down straps) and you now basically have a Jeep with a fridge.

3. Jeep branded binoculars - Binoculars are a great to have for watching fireworks light up the sky. The fact that they ll show off your Jeep brand enthusiasm is a bonus.

4.  Picnic blanket - Not just any picnic blanket - a Jeep picnic blanket. Keep it in the trunk for a weekend like this. You might prefer using what Mother Nature has to offer -ledges, rocks, tree trunks - but it s always nice to have a comfortable spot to sit down and hang.

5. Portable grill - Another versatile item good for quality cooked meals away from the kitchen. That brings us to the next item...

6. Meat - Lots of meat. Get those steaks marinated, find your local meat shop for the best brats and dogs, and buy the fixins so that you can be the toast - no, the grill - of the weekend. For the non-carnivores, get your vegetables cut, sliced, and otherwise prepped. A grilled vegetable medley is tough to beat any day of the week.

Whatd we miss? Let us know in the comments.

Beginning in 1934, the US Government commissioned from Dodge a series of 4WD military cargo trucks. Many of these trucks, including the 3/4 ton WC Series (an early precursor of the Dodge Power Wagon), helped lay the foundation for the modern RAM Trucks of today.

During WWII, well over 225,000 military cargo trucks rolled off the Dodge assembly line, each one built with a single goal in mind: to support the troops who were defending the freedom of their fellow citizens back home.

Today, RAM is still a proud supporter of our troops. From now until May 31st, we re offering to all members of the military, honorably discharged and current, two special incentives worth up to $1,000 combined.

Though it does not match the sacrifice of those who defend and protect our country, this is RAM s small way of saying thank you.

Have a safe and happy Memorial Day, from all of your friends at RAM.

As we look forward to Memorial Day, Dodge looks back across the long history of military production. As early as 1918, Dodge was producing Touring Cars for the U.S. Army. These vehicles featured modifications from the civilian models, such as rugged canvas duck fabric tops and khaki paint with the Army serial numbers painted across the hoods to allow for easy identification.

These Touring Cars saw action throughout Europe, and provided their passengers with dependable transportation through the muddy battlefields of France and Belgium. During the battles in Chateau-Thierry, St. Mihiel, Belleau Wood, Marne, Meuse-Argonne and many others, the rugged and hardworking Dodge vehicles moved troops and supplies. The superior performance of the Dodge Touring Car was lauded in numerous letters sent to Dodge by thankful soldiers, from enlisted men up to leading officers, such as General George Pershing - Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces.

In addition to the Touring Car, Dodge also produced Screen Side Trucks and Ambulances for the European Theater. Other contributions included components, such as the recoil mechanism for France s 155-mm guns. To support this effort Dodge built a special plant, erected specialized machinery and financed the entire project without turning a profit. At this plant, 30 units were produced each day.

As hostilities ended and peace returned, Dodge returned its focus to turning out their iconic civilian products. This was, however, not to be the end of Dodges involvement in U.S. military production. In 1940, the Army came calling again and Dodge was ready once again to contribute to the war effort.

In part two of Dodge s Military Might, we will look at Word War II and the Korean Conflict.

In the meantime, check out these exclusive offers from Dodge for members of the U.S. military.

With seating for up to five and a unique open-air design meant to make your off-road outdoor experience even better, the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the perfect vehicle for summer. And thanks to its fuel-efficient engine, you can Go Anywhere, Do Anything for longer.

Under the hood of every Jeep Wrangler Unlimited is the Pentastar 3.6L V6 engine, new for 2012. It delivers 285 horsepower - 40% more HP than the previous year. With 260 pound-feet of torque (10% more), the Wrangler Unlimited is 26% faster at 0-60 mph*.

The best part of all? The new engine makes the Wrangler Unlimited considerably more fuel efficient, so you can enjoy an EPA estimated 21 MPG HWY. In other words, you can go the extra mile whether you re on or off-road this summer.

Make this summer the summer of Unlimited fun.Visit Jeep.com for more and go take a test drive at your local Jeep dealership.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 14, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- A $500 Military Appreciation Bonus Consumer Cash allowance will be applied toward the retail purchase or lease of a new, eligible Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram Truck, or FIAT brand vehicle

All franchised Chrysler Group dealers are eligible to participate

Bonus cash offered for limited time

Chrysler Group LLC today announced that the company will expand its support for the U.S. military by adding a $500 Military Appreciation Bonus Consumer Cash allowance to the retail purchase or lease of a new, eligible Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram Truck, or FIAT brand vehicle from May 14 through May 31, 2012.

Truck people know what it means to be prepared.

Whether it s a first-aid kit or jumper cables, RAM owners in particular can be counted on to come through with the right tool when their fellow drivers are in need.

Being nearly summer, RamZone would like to remind you that your RAM is truck enough to carry more than just the basics, especially with the RamBox Cargo Management System along for the ride.

Here are ten suggestions for items to keep in your RAM truck during the summer months, because you never know when that old two-track in the woods will tempt you off the main road.

1. Bug spray - The deep woods mean less people and more mosquitoes. Sometimes it s a trade-off you can live with.

2. Sunglasses - Look cool and see well, even in the most blinding summer sun.

3. Camera - RAM fans have a perspective all their own, one worth sharing.

4. Fishing pole - Give a man a fish and feed him for a day; give a man a RAM and no fishing hole is out of reach.

5. Suntan Lotion - Nothing spoils summer faster than a sunburn.

6. Beef jerky - The original energy snack.

7. Ear plugs - For concerts, fireworks, and clearing logs from the two-track with your chainsaw.

8. Chainsaw - See number 7.

9. Atlas/map - Your RAM truck works in terrain where that smartphone map app might not. That s partly why you drive it, remember?

10. Camp chair - Because who wants to stand around the campfire?

Did we miss any? Let us know what you carry in your truck when the weather turns warm.

At the 46th Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari, Jeep Blog learned what capability really means. A stock, manual transmission 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sport crawled and navigated some of the toughest events that Moab has to offer. Tall ledges? Big ridges? No problem. The stock Sport performed like a champion.

While handily maneuvering all types of rugged terrain in Moab, Jim Repp, Jeep Brand engineer, explained to Jeep Blog what makes the stock Jeep Wrangler Sport off-road ready.

Having a car with lockers and a 4:1 [low-gear ratio] makes the driving experience a little different, but the reality is that the basic stuff is in the Wrangler Sport, Repp explained. The capability is there - the ground clearance, the approach and departure angles, and the articulation - it s all there.

We joke in engineering that the Wrangler is the cake and a vehicle like the Rubicon is the icing on the cake, said Repp. In a Jeep Wrangler Sport, the cake is there - all the ingredients are baked in.

So, what ingredients are baked into this off-road cake? The suspension articulation is basically the same [as the Jeep Wrangler Rubicon]. The ground clearance is a little less, but your approach, departure, and brake over angles - when we design those we make them the lowest they can be to meet our general parameters. It still maneuvers, it still steers, it s got traction, and the brake traction control is very effective even when you use a street tire.

Ready to Go Anywhere, Do Anything in a 2012 Jeep Wrangler Sport? Head over to Jeep.com for more.