This morning we attended a Memorial Day service at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA. (This is a soldier storming the beach.) One of the first speakers mentioned that Memorial Day has fallen out of popularity, that there aren't many parades or services or decorations laid anymore. Braden and I agreed with her. (In fact, I couldn't find ANYthing going on within 2 hours of our home, and we thought we were only coming to a "wreath laying" ceremony!) She mentioned taking a "moment" at 3 pm today, and while I admit that is a nice idea. . . it just isn't the same as OBSERVING Memorial Day.
Both of my grandfathers served in WW II and I grew up with a father who insisted that we attend our local Memorial Day service every year, and then attend to our loved one's graves afterwards. I admit that I didn't look forward to these services (except that almost every year someone in the band fainted, and about this time the lilacs were in bloom, which is wonderful) and the importance of the memorial seemed lost in the droning voices and repetition of the same things year after year. The reading of General Logan's orders was standard. Today, I picked out part of his orders in the service here. It made me smile and I was warmed the way one is glad to hear an old hymn. Memorial services now bring a tear to my eye and the significance is not lost. Braden and I choose to go, to take our four small children and observe the spirit of remembrance and gratitude. The solemnity of the occasion was due; it is the one time a year that I pause to reflect so deeply on the sacrifices made by valiant, loyal men and women. Here are two of Braden's pictures from the D-Day Memorial.
2 comments:
Although I dreaded going to the services when we were young, too, I'm so glad Dad instilled that value in us. I almost couldn't find a service here, and it's a military base! Our speaker also mentioned how the meaning of this holiday seems to be overlooked these days, which is very sad to me. Yet if our family didn't go every year, I probably wouldn't appreciate it as much as I do, so I'm very thankful for that.
After 20+ years I find something that actually impacted my children!! Mom, Nate, Zach, and I attended this years breakfast and services, which in my estimation, were as effective as any I've ever attended. So glad you girls were able to find a service even though therewould be no gravesites of relatives or friends, but Vets need the remembrance.
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