Memories of Memorial Day

1,335 days to go...

“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude.” ~Harry S. Truman

I have so many memories of Memorial Day. Growing up my little village, the Memorial Day parade and service was always a big deal. Even little ones would be in the parade with their tricycles decorated.

My Girl Scout troop always gathered at in front of our house to line up in the parade... it was strategically located on the parade route.

Our dads would be wearing their WWII uniforms and marching proudly. There was always such a diverse set of uniforms: officers and enlisted men -- Army and Navy. It was so strange to see them out of their business suits and in this attire. So many of our dads had served as citizen soldiers. I knew that among my parents' generation, just about everyone had lost a loved one or friend in that cataclysmic war. But they really didn't want to talk about it. But the parade and day really meant so much to them -- they took it very personally.

There was always a band from the Great Lakes Naval Base -- they were amazing — with their brass band and kettle drums. When I was really young, they had all sorts of groups like baton twirlers in the parade. By the time I was 10, most of those programs didn't exist any more at our grammar school, so the parade was mainly just the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts.

Then and still today, the parade is held the weekend before, so that everyone can see and participate in the ceremonies. It always seemed like there were more participants than observers.

Coming from a military family, Memorial Day was very important to my mother. We often returned to her small hometown in Missouri over the long weekend. At some point, we would take flowers to the cemetery and meet others, who were visiting graves as well. It was a practiced ritual that sort of turned into a social event with people reminiscing about various folks. Sometimes the stories were even quite amusing.

I think Southerners really embrace Memorial Day... so many were lost during the Civil War -- it was after that war, when this remembrance day began. Long after no family member was living in her hometown, Mother would like to go back to visit her parents' graves.

I am thinking about my amazing mother this weekend. It's the holiday that reminds me the most of her.

Hope your Memorial Day is filled with loving memories as well.

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Thought for the day …

“Ceremonies are important. But our gratitude has to be more than visits to the troops, and once-a-year Memorial Day ceremonies. We honor the dead best by treating the living well.”

~ Jennifer Granholm