Decoration Day

Decoration Day, as we used to call Memorial Day, was a day for taking care of cemeteries, cleaning grave sites and adding flowers in remembrance. I remember as a youngster visiting cemeteries where grandparents and others were buried, taking flowers to put on the graves even knowing they wouldn't last long in the hot sun. We always walked around as our parents visited with friends and relatives remembering the names on the markers, "I remember----, she/he, lived -- did--married--". Why didn't I pay more attention - but now need to search for such information. Afterwards we would always gather around Aunt Nellie's table loaded with such a feast and an afternoon of fun, pictures, and 'remember whens'.

Mom would always tell us when, as a child, there would be a 'program' in the little church and then all the children would parade around the cemetery putting a flower on each of the graves. She also told us how she would help her mother pick wild flowers, usually daisies, from the fields, wrap them in wet newspapers and ship them to Nebraska to the cemetery where Grandma's parents and two of her children were buried.

So many memories and so many people to remember!