Memorial Day…..
For most of us, Memorial Day weekend means three days off from work…It means the beginning of summer and vacations…It means parades, cookouts and or opening up a summer home. Memory Day is a tribute, a recognition, a remembrance to those who served this country and have died. I am not sure what takes place as one gets older in this life, but the meanings of things seem to become more important and yes, more emotionally heartfelt. One sees things differently as the years go on, and everything in a way is new. It seems to be experienced new. Or seen through one's eyes for the first time, in such a way never seen before. Maybe we become less selfish, or life becomes less busy for such things or even their thoughts. I don’t know. All I know is that there is deeper meaning to things of importance and petty things are thrown out. And, I gave my thoughts on this Memorial Day, to such men and woman so deserving of remembrance.
I thought of my father this Memorial Day. My Father enlisted into the Navy on March 12, 1931 for three years. He was in the Headquarters Company of the 26th Division. He was Honorable Discharged by expiration term of service on the 11th day of March 1934. It appears that he reenlisted on March 2, 1936 for another 3 years, in which he was honorably discharged on May 22, 1939. He went into active duty on 9/10/41 to Sept. 43 for foreign and/or sea service world war II. He served in the Navy and the Seabees. He was married at the time and living in Everett Mass. Working at the G.E. Co. in Everett. He received the World War II Victory Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Medal and the American Theater medal. He was a sheet metal worker. He was described when enrolled as: 23 years of age and by occupation as a truck driver. His record was of "excellence".
I did not visit his grave, nor place flowers or a flag. His grave is in a cemetery about 2 hours from here, in the next state. My mother is also buried there now, with our father and we have yet to visit there. When we do go, I will go with my brother and sister. But this Memorial Day, he was with me in thought, I do believe more than in the past.
This year, this Memorial Day, I also thought more about our service men at war in Iraq and families of those. Seems due to the chaos in Iraq, our men still fighting in Afghanistan are not mentioned as they should be. There was much on television about this holiday, our service men and their families, but I’ve been unable to watch.
As I have dedicated a garden to my mother, there is also another tribute if that is what it may be called, to my father-in-law, who passed away 4 years ago. He served in the army in active duty of WW II. My husband has since collected WW II paraphernalia and has received his father’s medals of active duty. And, as all things with a sense of importance seems to become greater as life moves on, so has this importance grown for my husband. And as my own “Mother’s Garden” is for me, is this call to be near veterans and gain greater knowledge is for my husband. It heals us now, for we are adult children without parents, as most children will experience in their life time. So, we do what we can from our hearts and minds, to keep memories alive and our souls forever healing. There, in our front yard is a pine tree, planted and grown for my father-in-law, James, and this tribute by my husband for his father, grows strong and tall.
Yesterday, Memorial Day, my husband placed a flag and his father’s metal for foreign war, before this tree. For, it is Memorial Day.
For most of us, Memorial Day weekend means three days off from work…It means the beginning of summer and vacations…It means parades, cookouts and or opening up a summer home. Memory Day is a tribute, a recognition, a remembrance to those who served this country and have died. I am not sure what takes place as one gets older in this life, but the meanings of things seem to become more important and yes, more emotionally heartfelt. One sees things differently as the years go on, and everything in a way is new. It seems to be experienced new. Or seen through one's eyes for the first time, in such a way never seen before. Maybe we become less selfish, or life becomes less busy for such things or even their thoughts. I don’t know. All I know is that there is deeper meaning to things of importance and petty things are thrown out. And, I gave my thoughts on this Memorial Day, to such men and woman so deserving of remembrance.
I thought of my father this Memorial Day. My Father enlisted into the Navy on March 12, 1931 for three years. He was in the Headquarters Company of the 26th Division. He was Honorable Discharged by expiration term of service on the 11th day of March 1934. It appears that he reenlisted on March 2, 1936 for another 3 years, in which he was honorably discharged on May 22, 1939. He went into active duty on 9/10/41 to Sept. 43 for foreign and/or sea service world war II. He served in the Navy and the Seabees. He was married at the time and living in Everett Mass. Working at the G.E. Co. in Everett. He received the World War II Victory Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Medal and the American Theater medal. He was a sheet metal worker. He was described when enrolled as: 23 years of age and by occupation as a truck driver. His record was of "excellence".
I did not visit his grave, nor place flowers or a flag. His grave is in a cemetery about 2 hours from here, in the next state. My mother is also buried there now, with our father and we have yet to visit there. When we do go, I will go with my brother and sister. But this Memorial Day, he was with me in thought, I do believe more than in the past.
This year, this Memorial Day, I also thought more about our service men at war in Iraq and families of those. Seems due to the chaos in Iraq, our men still fighting in Afghanistan are not mentioned as they should be. There was much on television about this holiday, our service men and their families, but I’ve been unable to watch.
As I have dedicated a garden to my mother, there is also another tribute if that is what it may be called, to my father-in-law, who passed away 4 years ago. He served in the army in active duty of WW II. My husband has since collected WW II paraphernalia and has received his father’s medals of active duty. And, as all things with a sense of importance seems to become greater as life moves on, so has this importance grown for my husband. And as my own “Mother’s Garden” is for me, is this call to be near veterans and gain greater knowledge is for my husband. It heals us now, for we are adult children without parents, as most children will experience in their life time. So, we do what we can from our hearts and minds, to keep memories alive and our souls forever healing. There, in our front yard is a pine tree, planted and grown for my father-in-law, James, and this tribute by my husband for his father, grows strong and tall.
Yesterday, Memorial Day, my husband placed a flag and his father’s metal for foreign war, before this tree. For, it is Memorial Day.
"If tears could build a
Stairway and memories
A lane, I'd walk right up
To Heaven and Bring
You Home Again."
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