Memorial Day

I love Memorial Day! When I was a smaller kid than I am now, my grandma would take me to the cemetery and we would walk through looking at dates, names and stories. She would tell me her own stories about the people she knew and loved. She made it an enjoyable experience, she made wise cracks like "Ohh, it looks deadly in here!" And I learned that a cemetery is not a place to be afraid of. Even now, I sometimes drive through alone and look at the field of stones each standing for someone who has gone before, and I am grateful for a grandma who taught me and showed me that those stones are signifying a person who somebody loved. They were men, women, children, pioneers, hard workers and veterans.

 While I think every day of the people who I love who have already gone, Memorial Day gives me the opportunity to pay tribute to those memories and to those people. The American Legion Post 42 allows me the privilege to stand with them and honor our veterans. This is a unique experience because I get to stand in line with these men who have been willing to give everything. They are courageous, selfless and our service men and women who have gone before, our veterans who stand among us today and those who are actively involved in the fight for freedom deserve all the respect and honor that we have to give.
So, while for many Memorial Day is just a day off from work, I am happy to take some time on that day to walk through and stand up the flowers that have blown over and to bugle TAPS through the cemetery air for those who I owe my freedom to.

Photo by Jo Sansevero

-Mandie