Memorial Day

When I think of Memorial Day, the two prominent images it brings to mind is a huge tree at the cemetery where my dad’s people are buried…and this photo of my Uncle Sonny. I remember all the military members of my family but we didn’t just decorate those graves. We decorated and remembered everyone we’ve lost over the years.

The big tree isn’t there anymore. The derecho of 2012 took that monster out…tearing it in half. Somewhere in my mom’s collection of photos is one with my brother and me at the cemetery decorating graves. We used to put on our Sunday best, pack a picnic lunch, and set up boards on sawhorses right there in the cemetery to eat our fried chicken and potato salad and watermelon. I was stunned when I learned there were actually people who didn’t do that every year!

The photo of my Uncle Sonny sat on the buffet in grandma’s dining room for as long as I can remember. He was killed in a plane crash just a month before I turned two. Mom said he loved me silly…he carried a picture of me nekkid on a rug in his wallet. I wish I could have known him and by the hundreds of tales and photos, I feel in a way that I did. I do know this…he was a believer and I will see him one day in Heaven with my people!

Mr. Virgo was in the Army as was his farther. My dad was in what was called the Army Air Corps…the predecessor to the Air Force. All of my fathers-in-law were military men. My step-mother was career Navy. So I remember them all this day. And all the others who have gone before me.

Mr. FixIt and I will go decorate graves sometime this week. I need to go to the farm for a couple of days to be there for the telephone company to hook up the new fiber optic lines. Here we are, just two miles from the county seat and we barely have cell service, but way out that winding old road of my youth…they have fiber optic. Good for them! Ours will come one of these days.

I hope you have good memories of your loved ones today, and that you are able to honor them in some way. May their memories bring you comfort.

“All gave some….some gave all.”

Thank you…and may you rest in peace.

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