A Day of

Today’s traditional holiday brings along with the picnic and the Flag ceremonies a nosegay of red, white and blue memories.

It was a hot and humid and the day of celebration was still termed Decoration Day. I was ten and my sister was five, and our patriotic parents rejoicing in the end of the War bought us identical white organdy dresses embroidered with red and blue stripes. We spent the day resplendent in our attire, never ashamed of wearing our nation’s colors, being careful not to spill anything on the treasured new garments.. Not only on that day, but every day I can recall, my parents were never embarrassed by their blatant patriotism.

Decades later I found myself a member of the Madonna Heights Ladies Auxiliary when traditionally on the last Monday morning of May, members joined in placing flags on veterans graves in the nearby national Cemetery in Pinelawn. Jackie Stirling, a thoughtful and generous lady, never forgot to bring doughnuts and thermos’ of coffee for those of us who arose so early.

Yesterday also brought the annual Annapolis Graduation via TV into many homes, including mine, which is now far from the beautiful Academy. . As I watched our President address the young midshipmen, my memories returned to another sunny morning at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadiuim when together, his father, and I, watched with pride our oldest son receive his diploma. It was the year another graduate, Jimmy Carter, was the Leader of our land, but to the disappointment of many, had sent VP Mondale to address the new Ensigns. Today, decades later on a different Memorial Day I mourn one and miss the other desperately. Another day; another time, but yes, Memorials.

Now my thoughts return with a quick change of pace to the months after 9/11 while I was still residing in Farmingdale, and viewed daily a procession of funerals traveling along Hempstead Turnpike towards the vast Pinelawn Cemetery bringing so many American heroes to their final resting place. There was no need for flag raising or protests during those long bleak months after the horror of September 11, 2001. All America was in pain.

Today is dedicated, as it should be to veterans, but there have been many heros and yes, heroines, who still reclaim my world albeit in visits to yesterday. Memorial Day is not really a bad time to do that.