Memorial Day Traditions.

I thought this might be a fun thread and even though it's OT sometimes we just need to step away from the pain.

Some of my fondest childhood memories are memorial day visits to the cemetery. As children we would all pile in the car and head over with flats of begonias, petunias, and geraniums as I guess these were Mom's favorites.

She kept a box in the trunk with a little garden shovel and spade along with a empty milk jug for water. That box was carried over from new car to new car throughout my life.

All my family at that time were in the same cemetery so it ended up a mini reunion when aunts and uncles and cousins all showed up too!! Kids dug, Mom's planted, dad's carried water and we left leaving our loved ones resting place looking great for the summer.

As Mom grew older and the amount of graves grew in numbers I always took her and did the planting while she directed. She never missed a year right up till the year she passed on.

We then always made the 20 minute drive to Camp Nelson National Cemetery and in my youth I never understood this since we had no family there. In later years I understood that Dad's 6 years in the Navy in WWII left friends there. I still remember the awe of a child looking out into that sea of little flags, row after row and perfectly straight.

We always went to some families cookout on Monday.

Seems people aren't as celebratory of this great day of remembrance as we were.

Anyway would love to see what others did and do.

To those who gave the ultimate sacrifice I thank you and the families.