Good Morning. I hope you are enjoying your Holiday weekend. As a kid I remember my parents calling this weekend Decoration Day. I also remember flags and school being out so I could help my dad every day.
Way back when our country set the last Monday in May to remember those who lost their lives fighting in wars. I read an article talking about the wars we have been involved in and American casualties. It said we lost around 1950 Americans during Desert Storm, 4400 during Iraqi Freedom, and 2200 since during Enduring Freedom. During the American Revolution 4400 soldiers died.
The article said around 54000 American solders died in the Korean War. It mentioned 90000 died in Vietnam. I remember hearing somewhere else that Americans lost in Vietnam was 57000 so I'm not sure. It's still a lot. I still remember my draft number. The war ended when I was 16.
The article said 117000 lives were lost in World War 1 and 406000 Americans died in World War 2. Our parents and grandparents still have vivid memories and personal experiences of how World War 2 affected them and our country as a whole.
The article said America lost 498000 lives during the Civil War and I have heard as high as 600000. Wow. I can't imagine living during a time when a country was fighting itself. If our country was strong enough to survive that hopefully we are strong enough to survive the mess we are in today.
We also use Memorial Day to remember our loved ones that have died.
Memorial Day is often spent with and remembering family. When I was 14 months old my Mom took me to (Olin Mills) to get my picture taken. I'm not sure if Olin Mills is a person or a place. I just remember the stories. That 14 month picture started a tradition. Below, my wife Jan and I are in the center. Our children all at 14 months old are around us. And now our grandchildren all at 14 months old are around them. Currently our family is in a holding pattern. We have no grandchildren under 14 months and we have none in the oven that I'm aware of.
Memorial Day is considered the start of summer and many folks camp or just use the weekend to relax.
Our church has a tradition of having a Memorial Day breakfast put on by our youth group. Our neighbors thought up the idea and Jan and I were youth leaders when it started.
Many folks use Memorial Day weekend for jobs around the yard. This picture is Jan through and through, her flowers, her mower, and her Ranger.
Memorial Day is considered time to finish up the planting if you are not done already and the start of the haying season.
My dad tells me when he and his brother farmed together they always sprayed fence rows on Memorial Day. I wonder what their wives thought of that.
It's raining as I'm writing early this morning. When we remember sometimes we remember the storms we've had thoughout our lifetime and hopefully we see the rainbow through the clouds.
No matter who we are or what we do we all have people watching us. What do they see? How will they remember us?
As we celebrate this weekend and remember the past don't forget to also remember the present and to help make memories for those who watch us and love us.
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