Flowers, Stones, and a Rock

When I was growing up my parents would spend Memorial Day weekend traveling to cemeteries putting flowers on graves.  They would visit the graves of their grandparents, their parents, and an aunt and uncle.   This would take them a full day to do as it involved visiting numerous towns.  They would then repeat the drive to remove flowers from the graves a few weeks later. 

When I was older, working, and had a family of my own,  Memorial Day weekend became a 3-day weekend, the start of summer, and picnic time - a far cry from what it meant to my parents.

The first year without my mom Michael and I did a similar drive, visiting my mom's,  my grandparents', and Michael's parents' graves.  It made me realize the time and effort my parents put into doing that year after year. It also reminded me of what Memorial Day was really intended to be. 

After my Dad passed away I was going through some of his Army things. While my Dad talked about his Army life some, I learned so much in the things I discovered in his box simply marked "Army." 

I found the Bible my greatgrandmother gave to my Dad when he left for the Army.

I found the letters my Dad had sent home to his mom.  She had saved them all and put them in a book.

I found numerous pictures of my Dad from that stage in his life.

I found my Dad's Army uniform.

I found my Dad's dog tags. 

I found the letter my Dad had written to his grandmother - whom he was very close to.  She had been ill and my Dad had requested a furlough to come home to visit her, but was denied.  In the letter my Dad told how frustrated he was, but that he was due to come home in 6 weeks and would see his Grandma then, how much he looked forward to that, and how much he loved her. 

Here's the letter

That letter arrived at my greatgrandmother's home minutes after she passed away.  My grandmother wrote this on the back of the envelope the letter was in.   That was such a heartfelt discovery for me.  My greatgrandmother never got to read that last letter from my Dad. I can only imagine how my Dad felt when he heard she had passed away.

While I feel I have always had an appreciation for our Veterans and the sacrifices they make, that brought it home for me. 

This year, in an effort to continue to celebrate Memorial Day as it was intended we went to visit the Freedom Rock here in Iowa.  It is amazing to see, and even more amazing to get to meet Ray Sorensen, the artist.  He hangs out at the rock over the weekend, visits with those who come to see it, and tells how it came to be.   He is a talented young man.

One side of the rock this year reads:

"They lost legs and I walk.
They lost minds and I think.
Sometimes they lose their lives and I live.
I am grateful." 

We also went to the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.  That is an overwhelming experience.  There are rows and rows of graves.  There are people there visiting their family members, and so many flowers and flags.  We saw a sign while on our trip that said, "Freedom isn't free."  The cemetery was a big reminder of that.

We met a family there who was visiting their husband/father/grandfather.  He passed away last July.  His widow told me how much she missed him.  He loved basset hounds. We took Belle with us on this trip and they asked if they could take a picture of Belle by his grave.  Of course Belle was happy to comply.   This couple had been married 54 years and it reminded me so much of how my Dad felt when my Mom passed away.  I felt truly blessed to be able to visit with them and was happy that Belle even played an important part of their visit. 

Each year we put flowers on Michael's parents' graves

and a plaque on my parents' graves

With time has come the willingness to take my 3-day weekend and use it for something meaningful.  Not just the start of summer, a chance to rest up because "I deserve it", or a time to picnic.  While all these things can be a part of the weekend, I am more than willing to devote some of that time to remembering, appreciating, and giving thanks. 

To all those who have served our country in the past, those serving today, the families who have lost loved ones fighting for our freedom, and the families who wait here at home yet today:


Thank you for your sacrifice. 



Let us not forget.