Decoration Day. Also called Remembrance Day was May 31st and it was the day we went to the graveyard to clean up family graves and leave fresh flowers. After going downtown to watch the parade of VFW and American Legion members. Where we stood up and put our hands over our hearts as the Color Guard passed. And my Dad marched in the parade playing the bugle as part of a drum and bugle corps.
That was before they moved it to a Monday and renamed it to Memorial Day. Before it became the unofficial first day of summer. Before it became the first weekend of camping. Before it became a day of BBQs and outdoor play.
I wonder how many people still spend time thinking about deceased soldiers and family members?
I know my step-sister still goes out and tends our family’s graves. And I give thanks that all my family’s soldiers and sailors came back alive.
TTYL,
Linda
I remember my Dad carrying his Dads flag in the Veterans Parade in Sidney MT. A lot of pride in America back in those days.
and all the ‘Memorial Day’ sales… cars… washers and dryers… you name it.
I watched the celebration on PBS… the one in Washington. it’s always touching.
I normally cry through the whole thing.
and the wars and the need for Memorial Day just keeps on.
when did we become the nation that only knows how to SHOP? that never has time for anything else?
yes, the same here in NZ (not about your Memorial day) but any day that celebrates an event…this w/end is Queens Birthday (Public Holiday Monday) already a couple of my online/card local stores have SALES both online and instore. Even one of the supermarkets that I don’t shop with how…sent their specials for the w/end…I’m sure if I looked at other online entities I would find “special deals”
of course, many places where people make widgets or sit at machinery will have the 3 days off…and we know how “bored” people get when they have too much time on their hands – “$hopping” 🙂
Well, I visit the gravesites every Memorial Day. Flags go on my dad’s, two uncles and a brother. My mom gets flowers and so do my aunts. One year I took four grandkids with me and the oldest then was about 10 years old. We flew from Dallas to Portland for the outing. My daughter goes with me but not so much my son always.