a day on which those who died in active military service are remembered, traditionally observed on May 30 but now officially observed on the last Monday in May. Also called (esp. formerly) Decoration Day.
That's the definition Google gives 'Memorial Day'. When I was a child, it was called Decoration Day and was the 30th of May. That was the day Dad would take my Grandma to the family church cemetery, to clean the graves of our family dead. These days were long before perpetual care. I can remember playing along the tombstones, reading epitaphs and being told "Don't walk on the graves, but between them". For some reason, you were not to speak very loudly and of course, no running. Didn't really understand why, as there was nobody to hear me or be disturbed by my running. At the time, I didn't understand that this was a way to 'Show Respect'. We always left flowers and would place tiny American flags on those of our kin who died in the line of duty. Of course the other community families would be doing the same. Doubt much of that is done now-a-days, since this church has a company taking care of the grounds. I expect the local community residents remember with flowers & perhaps a flag. When we visit my hometown, as we recently did for a family reunion, I always walk out in the cemetery and pay my respects: first to my parents, and to many of my ancestors' graves. My grandparents sleep behind the back wall of the church, so they are easy to find. Have to take a walk to find some of the other kin, because I don't remember exactly where they lay. It's a very interesting place, as such places go, because there are some graves that go back into the mid-1700's. Not really that old, perhaps, but it is for our little Southern town. It's intriguing to see how many relatives from both sides of my parents are buried here. Great-Greats on Mom's side are here as well, although it was more my Dad's people who lived in this community. Some of the inscriptions are interesting to read, and some of the tiny infant stones break your heart..to see so many losses in one family- lots were in sequential years.The church that stands there guarding these ancestors is about the 3rd or 4th that has stood on the site.
OK..on to the simple card that I hope will say Thank You for all of you who have Veterans who died so that we could enjoy those freedoms that we still have today. Hope you will accept it on behalf of their dedicated sacrifice.
Edit: Just received the link to this very emotional video, which expresses all the thoughts everyone in any country should be thinking. All our countries have sacrificed to one war or another. Warning: it will bring some tears, but we ALL need to think about these things:
Hope the link will open for you. At the beginning, the author explains how the video came about. Listen to the words of his song as you see the photos.
- White c/s was swiped with DI Barn Door and Fired Brick, then embossed with a stars EF, die cut with a stitched hillside die (think was Lawn Fawn)
- Memento Bahama Blue swiped over another white c/s, then used DI Faded Jeans. Hillside die, then a starburst EF. Both these pieces were adhered to a white card front with dimensionals.
- Sentiment computer generated and die cut with an MFT xstitch rectangle. (the white part of the sentiment had to be sort of grayed...of course the white lettering would not show up, but at least it kept to the idea of Red, White & Blue).
- Cardbase is from a 4th of July Paper Studio 12x12 purchased some years ago.
That's it. Hope it conveys my Thanks to those who so deserve it. Thanks for coming to visit, and have a grand day.
