Memorial Day

Memorial Day. It’s one of my favorite holidays.  It’s the unofficial kick off to summer. My husband and I will at times head to my favorite gas tank getaway- Mackinaw Island. I love the Island, as soon as you arrive on the ferry the smell envelops you, a rich aroma mix of salty lake water, sweet fudge, grills from the many dockside restaurants, and of course the ever present smell of the local “smog” horse manure.  I love this combination of smells, it immediately takes my stress away.

The island is rich inland is rich in history and does an excellent job celebrating that history. Memorial Day is special. They have reenactments, and a special tribute to all our soldiers who gave the ultimate sacrifice to our county. So that you and I, our families can have the freedoms we love.

Sometimes like this year we have a special event and can’t make that trip up to the island. Michaela, my sister and Goddaughter graduated high school this weekend.  We needed to celebrate that victory with her. 

Since we were home Saturday we packed up Soph and went down to the local festival here in DePere. It always is a good time, with plenty of food, drinks, and entertainment to go around. They cap it off with the Fireworks Sunday night followed by-this year- the Nitty Gritty Dirt band. But in the mist of this celebration they pay homage to the veterans.

Monday is parade day and bright and early the streets in DePere are packed, lined either side with children, parents, the occasional dog. The smell of sunscreen is thick in the air as mom’s and dad’s slather their children in it. The rustle of grocery bags is heard as excited kids jump up and down to see if the parade is starting, if the candy train is on the way yet. Here in DePere, in Middle America, The United States is still respected, we may not agree with government decisions, but the flag is respected, the soldier is respected. Today as the flag turn the corner every person along that street was standing, the applause was loud, dotted throughout the crowd there were servicemen and women standing ramrod straight at attention and executing a perfect solute. This thundering applause continued for a near ten minutes while various veterans from the most recent war, to a few World War II Vets.   This to me was an amazing site, so many times on Facebook you see pictures of parades with the flag passing and people sitting down, or on their phones or disinterested.  That disinterest that lack of respect is going to get this country further into trouble. 

At the parade we sat next to a couple with a little boy about four years old. Sapphira being Sapphira wasn’t really getting the whole concept of the candy being tossed, and this couple and this little boy made sure Sapphira got equal candy, and shared. When someone would pass her up but dump a huge amount into his bag, the little boy immediately gave some to Sapphira. When the little boy was afraid of a mascot Sapphira said “let’s give him high five together” and they did. There was a sense of compassion, and justice in this couple, and they were instilling it into their son. I applaud that. I don’t know this couple name, and I probably will never see them again, but they were so kind and friendly to Sapphira. And when the flag came by the father said “Stand up Son and show the flag the respect it deserves.”   The country needs more people like this. The country needs more kindness, more respect, more love and compassion in it.  And this was the perfect example of that. There was no judgment or censorship, but only kindness, compassion, and friendliness.  It was a perfect morning.

I know I am not the only one who loves Memorial Day, people get a day off, an extra day to spend with family and friends, doing things they enjoy. Celebrating Summer is around the corner. But it is important, that in the mist of celebrating all that, that we stop and remember the reason for this day. We have this day as a remembrance for those who lost their lives so we can enjoy ours.  For the people that even right now are protecting us in ways that you and I can only imagine. To those men and women, Thank YOU from the bottom of my heart. To their families, thank you as well, for the love and support you give them.

On Friday at work I received an email reminder to fly the flag at half staff till noon today. I didn’t exactly know why, but I forwarded it on to my boss. Today I found out why, and I find it beautiful in a heartbreaking way. And entirely appropriate way to close this entry:

"In traditional observance of Memorial Day, the American flag is raised briskly to the top of the staff and then solemnly lowered to the half-staff position, where it remains only until noon. It is then raised to full-staff for the remainder of the day.

 

 The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon, their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all."

 

 - www.usmemorialday.org

Happy Memorial Day everyone, I hope it was a safe and fun holiday for all. More important thank you to all the service men and women. God Bless and Keep you Safe.