Memorial Day

"Memorial Day isn't just about honoring veterans, its honoring those who lost their lives. Veterans had the fortune of coming home. For us, that's a reminder of when we come home we still have a responsibility to serve. It's a continuation of service that honors our country and those who fell defending it."

Pete Hegseth

A moment of silence,
a prayer whispered,
for those who gave their lives.

They did not return
from their last battle,
to family,
to friends,
or jobs left behind
when the stepped up
to serve their country.

A moment of silence,
a prayer whispered,
for those who gave their lives
and who now in heaven reside.

Memorial Day Memories

I'm 70 years young, and I can remember when Memorial Day was celebrated May 30 instead of the last Monday in May. Each year, Grandma would make crepe paper flowers to put on the graves of family members who had served in the military or war. Grandma and Grandpa called it Decoration Day because that's what it was called when they were young. 

I haven't written a poem, story, or essay containing my Memorial Day memories in a long time. I like the title Crepe Paper Flowers, it sounds like it would make a good Memorial Day poem. I'll need to do a timed free write to bring back some of the memories, but I think it would be a good writing exercise. 

Meditation Monday: Memorial Day 2015

Kamal (Perfection), 9 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur), 172 BE - Monday, May 25, 2015 about 10:30 am Pacific Daylight Time

Memories
of Uncle Roy the Doughboy
who never spoke of his experience
in the American Expeditionary Forces
of World War I.

I think back to the years I spent in Blackwell, Oklahoma. I think back to the times I saw Uncle Roy. I regret never asking him about his experiences in World War I.

Memories
of my father
who served in the Army Air Corp
during World War II.

I think back to the memories of my father. I remember him as a tall man and a gentle man. I don't remember him speaking about his experiences in World War II. I regret never asking him about those experiences.

Meditation Monday: Memorial Day Poem

Kamál (Perfection), 8 ‘Aẓamat (Grandeur), 171 BE - Monday, May 26, 2014 about 5:25 pm Pacific Daylight Time

My Grandmother made crepe paper rose
Each rose was meant for a hero's grave
My Grandfather would drives us from cemetery to cemetery
On Memorial Day to find the veteran and family member
I remember seeing flags other kinsmen had left
And I wondered what stories the deceased had told about the war
Listening the wind blow through the trees echoing my curiosity

Days have passed into years
And years into decades, but each
Year I remember them on Memorial Day.

Our Plans for Memorial Day weekend in Las Vegas

Istijlál (Majesty), 8 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 169 BE – Thursday, May 24, 2012 about 6:30 PM Pacific Time

When Mom came home from the daycare center this afternoon there was a note on her wheelchair. On Monday, for Memorial Day observances, they close the daycare center. Mom will stay home and I have to figure out something for us to eat.

I have to plan three meals for two people on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. When Mom is at the daycare center, she eats two meals and snacks. I eat two meals or rather I attempt to eat two meals by myself. When Mom is at the daycare center, I usually eat only one meal, but when she is at home, I eat three meals because Mom does not like to eat by herself.

I know that Monday, we will have a potato and carrot casserole. I have not decided whether I will add chicken or beef to the potatoes and carrots. I am not sure what else we will have, so I will have to see what we have here before I go to the grocery store. Maybe I will get us a watermelon. I always enjoyed watermelon on Memorial Day.

Our plans for Memorial Day weekend are exciting. We will stay home and I will see if I can get Mom to walk up and down the hall a few times. Mom needs to get more exercise, which means assisting her and her walker up and down the hall.

I Remember: Memorial Day Memories

Fidál (Grace), 6 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 169 BE – Tuesday, May 22, 2012 about 6:30 PM

I remember commemorating Memorial Day on May 30 instead of the last Monday in May.

I remember buying red poppies from Veterans a few days before Memorial Day.

I remember going with my Grandparents to visit the graves of Veterans on Memorial Day.

I remember my Grandmother making crepe paper flowers to put on the graves we visited on Memorial Day.

I remember helping Grandma pack our picnic lunch and snacks to take with us when we visited the graves on Memorial Day.

I remember my Grandma referring to Memorial Day as Decoration Day.

I remember visiting small graveyards without any nearby towns on Memorial Day.

I remember Memorial Day...

This year Memorial Day weekend begins on Saturday, May 26 and we commemorate Memorial Day on Monday, May 28. Pause and say a prayer for the departed or for America or both.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day

Jamál (Beauty), 14 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 167 BE – Sunday, May 30, 2010 about 6:16 PM Pacific Time

Monday, May 30, is Memorial Day and I may spend the morning in the laundromat, if the one I go to is open. I had planned to go to the laundromat this afternoon; however, I did not consider my mother's new nap schedule. After lunch, Mom wants to take a nap and she goes to bed, therefore, we are going to have to start going to the laundromat of a morning.

If the laundromat is closed Monday, we will go on Tuesday morning. Tuesday afternoon Mom has an appointment to pick up a new hearing aid. I think the new hearing aid will help when it comes to communicating with Mom. There is still the question of the afternoon naps, which I think is excessive; however, I have not discussed that with her doctor so I do not know for sure.

Perhaps getting Mom out of the house of a morning will help. I'll load the laundry baskets in the car tonight, if the laundromat is closed tomorrow at least the basket will be in the car for Tuesday.  I bought a new watch a week or so ago, so I can keep a close eye on the time if I have to wait until Tuesday morning to do laundry. This is Las Vegas, so I suspect the laundromat will be open; I will just have to wait and see.

Decoration Day

Decoration Day
Is what Grandma always called
Memorial Day

Driving to the graves
My grandparents remembered
Memorial Day

My Grandmother called it Decoration Day

Kamál (Perfection), 9 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 166 BE – Monday, May 25, 2009 about 7:21 AM Pacific Time

My grandmother called it Decoration Day.
It was a day of driving
from cemetery to cemetery
and placing homemade crape paper flowers
on the graves of veterans
who had passed into the next world.

Grandma knew the name of each veteran
and who he married;
Grandpa knew the routs to each cemetery
and the names of the nearby towns.

Preparation for Decoration Day
began on the first of May
when Grandma bought colored crape paper
and pipe cleaners;
then we made crape paper flowers
with pipe cleaner stems.

On Decoration Day;
on Memorial Day
we drove to the cemeteries
and placed the flowers on the graves;
we took a picnic lunch,
which we consumed outside
the graveyard of a town
in Oklahoma or Kansas.

National Moment of Remembrance

At 3:00 PM on Memorial Day stop and ring a bell three times to remember those who have sacrificed for our freedom. The White House Commission on Remembrance web page gives more information on this commemoration of those who have died in wars from the Revolutionary War to the present.

I’m getting nostalgic

Jalál (Glory), 5 Jamál (Beauty), 166 BE – Saturday, May 2, 2009 about 6:25 PM Pacific Time

I'm missing my Grandparents. Perhaps it's the time of year, today is the first Saturday in May. This is the time of year Grandpa began taking us to the Lake on weekends. We would go water skiing, boat riding and fishing. All right, I'm not real crazy about fishing basically because I don't care to put worms on hooks. Grandpa liked to fish and I like eating fresh fish.

Perhaps it's just because I'm getting older and thinking about the Good Old Days. I'm not sure precisely what the problem is or even if there is a problem. I've just been thinking a lot about my Grandparents lately. As a child, my mother worked so Grandpa and Grandma took care of us while Mom worked.

Perhaps I should write a poem or story about my Grandparents. That would help with this nostalgic feeling that I'm getting. It's a wistful feeling, like there is something I'm missing. I did write a short piece about my grandparents and Memorial Day. Maybe I need to write something about my grandparents and Mothers' Day or Fathers' Day.

I don't think I've ever written anything about Grandma and Mothers' Day or Grandpa and Fathers' Day. Grandpa was my father figure, so perhaps that's why I'm feeling nostalgic; I haven't written anything about Grandpa for Fathers' Day.

I have slacked off recently

Kamál (Perfection), 10 ‘Azamat (Grandeur), 165 B.E. – Monday, May 26, 2008 about 4:34 PM PDT

I have slacked off recently. I started working from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM out side the house and as a result, I have not achieved as much at home as I wanted. I used today to catch up on a couple of things. Last night I stayed up later then usually and got up about 5:30 AM instead of 4:00 AM this morning.

I think my problem is a routine. I need to establish a new writing routine. I have not been getting on line in the morning before going to work. Instead, I have watched the local news, which is a bit depressing. I am not sure about getting on line before going to work in the mornings. I think that establishing a new writing routine in the afternoon is the best idea.

I did not go anywhere today. The main problem is gas prices. I paid about $3.71 a gallon the last time I bought gas. I have to get more gas this week, so I will get another $20 tomorrow. I remember when I could fill the tank on a $20 bill and have enough left over for a couple of bottles of soda or coffee. Now all $20 gets is about half a tank or less of gas. Oh well, I suppose it could be worse, at least we are not paying $10.00 a gallon yet.

Memorial Day Approaches

‘Idál (Justice), 17 Jamál (Beauty), 165 B.E. – Wednesday, May 14, 2008 about 7:45 PM PDT

Memorial Day approaches. It is commemorated on Monday, May 26, rather then on the traditional May 30. I still think of Memorial Day falling on May 30, but since everyone has to have a three day week end it is celebrated on a Monday this year.

I will get Memorial Day off, but that is beside the point. I still think of it in the traditional manner. I miss Memorial Day being celebrated on May 30. I doubt that we go out of town. Gas prices are getting close to $4.00 and it would not surprise me if they reached that on Memorial Day weekend.

How am I going to celebrate Memorial Day this year? I have no idea. I think I will do a little research on the history of that day and write a blog entry. Normally I celebrate with a poem, but this year perhaps a flash fiction story is more appropriate. I am not sure yet.

I miss celebrating Memorial Day the way my grandparents commemorated it. I remember grandma making paper flowers to put on the graves. There were family graves all over Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. I have a few days to consider and see if I can find some family photos to post.