Remembering Memorial Days
May 25, 2008
Post Tags: Lest-We-Forget , living-memorials , memorial-day
When I was young I never stopped to think much about Memorial Day. When I was growing up it was called Decoration Day. I remember once we all got dress up like we were going to church but instead we went to the cemetery and put small flags on the graves. It was grandma’s idea, when you are 5 you really don’t know what is going on.
I remember family gatherings where Dad and my uncles would sometimes speak in hushed tones about “The War”. Those uncles have now all passed, only Dad remains, the oldest of the brothers. There won’t be any conversations in hushed tones this year. Just quiet thoughts on the front porch as we pray for the safe return of all serving in harms way.
I remember the picnics and cookouts, the weiner roasts and the Indianapolis 500.
I remember it all seemed so long ago, those wars.
I remember all the things we get to do now because of what “they” have given for the freedom my children and grand children have today.
Lest we Forget, we pause to remember the sacrifices made and the freedoms we enjoy.
The picnics held, the camping trips enjoyed, the campfires with some mores and the friends and family lost, all these are part of what makes Memorial Day.
It is more than just a time to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice it is time to live our lives in a way that honors them.
This Memorial Day there are living memorials of the wars of the past as well as the present.
