Memorial Day...

...holds many memories for me. But until today, none involved attending a public service for those who have served in our nation's armed forces.

That changed this morning. Our family of five sat at various corners of the school gym where community members gathered for a presentation of flags, prayers, speeches and music honoring – especially local – veterans.

Isaac and Aaron played clarinet and flute with the high school band on their two selections. Dan sang three numbers with the community choir.

Noah and I snuck in moments before the program began and sat in the back next to three elderly men from our church. Noah had a small flag in hand. While we stood during the songs, Noah waved his flag.

As we sat for the speeches, Noah ate crackers that I'd bought him at our little town store to stave off his complaints of hunger. One gentleman looked at Noah and then to me. I whispered apologetically, "He didn't eat any breakfast." The man replied, "That's okay. He's got his flag. That's all that matters."

The guest speaker briefed us on the start of Memorial Day. He explained:


Shortly after the Civil War, some southern women were walking home from church. As they passed by a Confederate cemetery, they thought aloud: 'How lonely those graves look.' They picked wildflowers to decorate the headstones. Likewise, their children picked wildflowers – only they walked across the road to the other cemetery and put their bouquets on the graves of Yankee soldiers. Some of the women wondered whether this was proper. An older woman of the group pondered the question and decided: 'Yes, both sides fought for what they thought was right. These Yankee men died and were buried far away from their homes. Their graves deserved attention too.' And so, began the tradition of Decoration Day to honor our nation's deceased military veterans. Later the holiday became known as Memorial Day.


The speaker encouraged us to verbally express our thanks to our veterans before – "they fade away." He explained that those words were made famous by General Douglas MacArthur during his 1951 Farewell Address to Congress. MacAurthur quoted part of a popular barracks' ballad refrain: "Old soldiers never die; they just fade away."

As the school band played the various marches from each military branch, veterans in the audience stood up for their song. Noah and I discovered we were surrounded; Our church men (sitting beside Noah) were former Navy and Army vets.

I'll admit a lump in my throat formed as a proverbial light went on. Now I better understood why Noah's cracker-eating didn't matter to these men. Instead, they cared more about Noah's enthusiasm for waving his little flag – the Stars and Stripes banner under which they'd served.

This Memorial Day exceeded my memories of earlier ones. Decades ago, I was born the day after Memorial Day. In all the years of birthday celebrating, I'd never come so close to grasping our nation's commemoration. What a blessing to be drawn out of our home and into this service on Memorial Day.

To our veterans: Thank You for your service, patience, and enlightenment. And – as the great entertainer Bob Hope used to say – "Thanks for the memories."