DAY 71

Memorial Day Weekend. What the heck are we going to do to honor the fallen soldiers? Our small town always has a parade that begins at our library, continues down to the courthouse where the war memorial stands, then on to the cemetery. Members of the military speak about the sacrifice that was made by those who fought and died, and by their families. The high school band plays patriotic music. Boy scouts row out into the lake and place a wreath in the water. There is a twenty-one gun salute. We pause at all of our family graves and pay tribute to those who have gone before us.

My father was a member of the US Air Force, working as a mechanic on fighter planes. When he left the service he went to work for United Airlines. After he retired he became involved in the American Legion. When he was in his late 70's and early 80's he drove other old vets to doctor appointments. He mailed out membership renewal paperwork. He sold poppies to raise money for his very small Legion post in Linden, Michigan. He participated in the Linden Memorial Day ceremonies until after he had a stroke at age 81. He cried at every cemetery ceremony. He was my hero.

There will be no parade, no band playing the Star-Spangled Banner, no twenty-one gun salute. So, how will we spend this time of reflection?  I will take Miss Nine for a walk to the courthouse and sit near the war memorial. I will tell her what Memorial Day is all about. I will talk to her about her grandfather and uncles who served, and about our friend's son who died in Afghanistan. We will cry for them all.