Memorial Day Memories

**forHISglory** · 05-22-2008, 02:31 PM

When I was younger, Memorial Day was when we visited all the nearby graves and decorated them. Mom would go out and cut flowers from whatever was blooming. Usually it was peonies. The big black ants loved to frequent peonies, so we had to try and pick them off before we put them into the trunk of the car. Mom filled Mason jars with water and put those in a cardboard box; the flowers went into the jars to stay fresh until we arrived at the grave yard. To this day I can never smell or see peonies without those memories of walking about the cemetery in the hot sun, putting flowers on the grandparents' graves.

And every year, we heard the same stories over and over of when the grandparents came to America, all their names, their achievements. We went thru the whole family tree. At the time, I wondered why, but now I know my family history!

As a teen, we added another dimension to our Memorial Day outings. I was in band, and the band played at the city cemetery as part of the patriotic ceremony. The old vets were there in uniform or at least in the hats. They stood, trembling, at attention, after they carefully marched in with the flags. The mayor would speak and the head of the VFW would speak. A woman would sing "The Star Spangled Banner". Then the vets would give a 21 gun salute. I still remember how the sound volleyed thru the valley. After that, one of the high school trumpet players would begin to play Taps. He was always at the other end of the cemetery and the sound was lonely and ghostly as it wafted up the valley. The only other sound was the wind. People were absolutely silent thru the entire experience. Little children stood quietly, sensing the reverence of the moment. Even when it was over, and the vets had marched away with the flags, and the band was dissembling, it was quiet. We teens had had a glimpse of something bigger than ourselves.

We didn't really have the big family BBQ as is custom now. Memorial Day meant visits to the cemetery, the patriotic service, and the beginning of when we could wear white shoes.

Really, I sort of miss those times of remembrance. Do you have Memorial Day memories?

**annymoll** · 05-22-2008, 02:41 PM

Our Memorial Day was the same. We visited the graves , my mom, dearest grandma and grandpa(Now at rest also)my aunt, cousin, brother and sister. We cleaned the graves and the gravestones.There was a little park where we ate lunch. It was hand sliced lunchmeat, from the little family owned deli in that small town of Sibley, Missouri.We drank ice cold Vess soda pop, and had Guy's potato chips.We had the Vetern's program, a parade, and also a family picnic at grandma's. She always had a big watermelon, and strawberry shortcake.We also had a program at church.We try to do the same things for our kids, and grandkids.I do try to get down to Clarksville, Arkansas to clean the grave of a school mate who perished with his family in a plane crash when we were ten. Lots of memories.

**Bournecrazy** · 05-22-2008, 04:22 PM

Originally Posted by forHISglory

and the beginning of when we could wear white shoes.

sory to go a bit off topic, can someone explain the whole business of wearing white clothing after this day, i've never got why, maybe cus im not American?? but im curious.

**shoiji** · 05-22-2008, 05:54 PM

As a kid I can remember the whole town lining up for the town parade. If you were lucky, you would decorate your bike in red, white, and blue streamers and ride at the end of the parade. Afterwards, the neighbors would all come together for a neighborhood picnic. One family always made homemade peach ice cream (with a hand crank that the kids took turns turning). I think this was one of the highlights of the picnic. And at dusk we lit sparklers.

**Bournecrazy** · 05-22-2008, 06:35 PM

i would love to do stuff like that as a kid, or even now, its a shame we dont do much on our patron saint's day, just get drunk

**Michelle68** · 05-22-2008, 06:51 PM

Originally Posted by Bournecrazy

sory to go a bit off topic, can someone explain the whole business of wearing white clothing after this day, i've never got why, maybe cus im not American?? but im curious.

This was just fashion etiquette at one time, I believe. It used to be (at least here the southern part of the US), that you didn't wear white shoes before Easter. People don't really adhere to that anymore, though.

--Michelle

**rudypoo98** · 05-22-2008, 06:57 PM

As a Kid our family all went around to each graveyard where family was buried and put flowers on them.Since my dad was the youngest my aunts and uncles would have him put theirs on for them when they got too old to do it.He died in 02 so now I took over for him.I'll be going around tomorrow to do it.To him it was very important that all his relatives graves were decorated.

**rudypoo98** · 05-22-2008, 07:05 PM

You also didn't wear white shoes or clothes after labor day and you changed your purse too.A dark purse was for fall and winter.I still change my purses with the seasons.I think the idea of white clothes had something to do with hot weather since white reflects the sun.I wore a black pair of jeans one time in my car on a hot day and the sun comming in the widow burned my leg like a sunburn.

**forHISglory** · 05-22-2008, 07:30 PM

Vess soda and Guy's chips! Now that was living!

And on the wearing of white...... no set rules, but it seemed traditional in our area to only wear white shoes in late spring and summer. Never, of course, after Labor Day! Boy, have times changed!

As far as Memorial Day customs, do you think the younger generation today associates the day with the origin? Or rather with beginning of summer and fun? Not wrong to have an official start to summer, but I do hope that they understand what the day was all about.

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 05-22-2008, 08:43 PM

We go with Scouts (DSs are both Scouts) and put flags on the veteran's graves. We buy BBQ chicken from the scout troop and just sort of kick back. Oh yeah, we ALWAYS put our flag out!

**forHISglory** · 05-23-2008, 10:54 AM

Usually in our area, the peonies are almost done by Memorial Day. This year (I guess due to the really cool weather), they haven't bloomed yet.

Hope your Memorial Day is peaceful and full of memories. Let's just take time to remember those who sacrificed and those who have gone on before us.

Happy Memorial Day!

**heartofmine** · 05-23-2008, 03:42 PM

This Memorial Day is going to the hardest so far on my family. Its been such a horrible year. In the last year 3 of my uncles died..2 of cancer and 1 of suicide. My mil passed away from a heart attack and stroke. 3 of my husband's first cousins died...1 of cancer and 2 of heart attacks and 1 of those just last week. Then 8 weeks ago Sunday my sil...my husband's sister committed suicide. I honestly just cannot face this year. We will have a church dinner Sunday and I'll be cooking for it with my dd's help because I'm down with a severely sprained ankle and have been for 6 weeks but I won't be doing any decorating. Its just to much too soon.

I do wish everyone else the best though.

**HisDaisy** · 05-23-2008, 04:35 PM

Growing up my mom and I used to go the cemetery on Memorial day. We would put flowers on grandparents graves and on the graves of some of my moms former students (she worked with severely retarded students in a special ed classroom -- many died before they left elementary school).
It was always a day of remembrance. In high school, played in the band and played in several memorial day concerts.

This year I plan to go to a band concert in the park. I may also visit a local cemetery. I am sure the my mom and brother will be putting flowers on the graves this year.