At The Cemetery

        Coming up next week is Memorial Day. But did you know that it was originally called Decoration Day, and it was started just after the end of the Civil War as a way to pay tribute and remember all those who died in that war, both Union and Confederate soldiers. And it provided a bit of healing to all. The end of May was chosen because many spring flowers were in bloom, and those blossoms were used to decorate the gravesites and cemeteries. After World War I, the name Memorial Day was slowly adopted to replace Decoration Day.

Many areas of this country, particularly the southeastern states, carried on the tradition of Decoration Day, and it became a day to visit cemeteries, clean gravesites, and gather with family to share stories about those loved ones passed on. Those activities still occur on Memorial Day, but there is something special about Decoration Day.

Now here comes the twist! Please read on! I’m sure you are all slightly tired of reading these weekly blogs. So let’s do something different for next week and create our own virtual Decoration Day!! I would love for you all to do the writing for next week. 

Since we all live so far apart geographically, I would like each one of you to share a memory of someone, text it to me, and I will put them all together for next week. It can be about anyone, family or friend, even a pet! And it doesn’t have to be long (but it can be), just a sentence or two if that works for you. You can even include a photo. That would be super special. Make it easy - just use your microphone on your phone, and send me a brief text. How does that sound? 

For my family members that receive these blog posts, please share this with others in your family so you all can participate in this. A story and a memory of loved ones are made even more meaningful and kept alive when they are shared. So let’s see what you all can come up with. I'm super excited! 

That is it for this week - short and sweet! Send me those texts!! And next week we can have our own version of Decoration Day / Memorial Day, maybe even share a virtual basket of fried chicken and potato salad, with a bouquet of peonies and lilacs to scent the air.