Parade Madness

I spent the weekend doing a few things - yard work, pool opening and parades.

But before I get to that, remember when I said my dog ate my phone? Well, I got a new phone on Thursday. Then on Saturday, that phone was run over by a fire truck from a neighboring company whose driver doesn't know the universal sign for stop! But, I'm techno again. I have a new phone, all my numbers and I'm ready to go! This phone isn't leaving my sight!

Ok, so, on Saturday morning, I got dressed in my dress blues for the parade at the next town over.

I dressed the boy in his fire department t-shirt, lathered him with sunscreen and off we went. We lined up in our designated spots and watched as others fell in line: The shriners, the National Guard, the Civil War reenactors, the high school bands, the dairy princess, the local businesses and organizations, the local VFD and American Legion etc.

As we drove the parade route and threw candy to the kids, I noticed, flags waving in the air and crowds cheering. It was very nice. The ceremony after the parade was moving. A number of veterans were there and everyone paid their respects. The local history museum was open and everyone was friendly and welcoming. A typical small town memorial day parade.

Then Monday, we dressed in our uniforms again for another parade. This held much the same as the first but ended in the cemetary for the ceremony, the reading of local veterans who had recently passed and the 21 gun salute.

I don't typically do cookouts and beer parties on memorial day. We participate in the parades and we remember our fallen. But mostly, we spend time as a family.

We did much the same this weekend. But I remembered my grandpap who, though not killed in any war, served his country well. He's been gone many years, but for some reason was in my thoughts. I hoisted a flag in his honor, said a prayer for those still in harms way, and remembered those fallen as Taps played. I am grateful that I can expose my son to these parades. That I can teach him that on this day - in fact on every day- it is important to honor those that made it possible for us to parade down mainstreet tossing candy to the crowd without a care. That I can share these memories of the solemnity of Taps and the 21 gun salute and the awe in a fly over from the local base. It is memories and experiences like these that make me love this holiday.

I hope your memorial day was as memorable as mine.