re: What Matters to Marti...Summer Memories

Dave U — Fri, 25 May 2007 20:26:20 GMT

Memorial Day for me has always been a connection to those relatives that have gone before me. Having one grandparent, several great grandparents and the remaining great-great grandparent immigrate to the US and settle all within a 10 mile radius of my birthplace, does make it easy to find my roots. I drive three hours from where I currently live, take my children and go to the three or four cemetaries near my birthplace, where we will clean up the headstone and footstones, clip and water the grass, and tell stories of these relatives.

Last year, a high school friend died in the Iraq war. Stuart Anderson was the first high school classmate known to have died in over 25 years from graduating. About ten of our classmates got together and planted a flaming red maple tree on the school grounds in his memory. Joining us also were his parent, sister, niece, city mayor, and other Bensonites. We also had the VFW Color Guard and a bugel player who played "Taps" in a tree planting dedication ceremony.

This year we will add a Memorial Day stop to clip the grass around Stuart's tree, water the tree, and tell stories of a high school friend, who served in the military to protect our freedom.

As a nation, young and old need to come together to remember and honor the fallen soldiers from years and decades gone by, as well as uphold and support those who are currently serving.

re: What Matters to Marti...Summer Memories

Dave U — Thu, 31 May 2007 22:33:25 GMT

I attended two Memorial Day parades and ceremonies with my three boys. Clontarf's included twenty youth caring flowers and fifteen youth playing band instruments. They performed a role call of veterans who are buried at this cemetary starting with three from the Civil War. The youth read several poems and readings about Memorial Day. About 150 people were present, which is great for Clontarf, a village of a couple hundred.

The second Memorial Day parade and ceremony was in Benson, a city of 3,350. An 80 piece high school marching band, and 80 piece junior high band marched the route with VFW Color Guard, veterans, 20 boys scouts and 15 girl scouts. Speaking along with a couple of veterans, were a local pastor and the mayor of Benson (former English and Speech high school teacher, Kittleson). Both the pastor and the mayor spoke about faith, family, and the future, along with the sacrifices made by so many veterans in the past and present. About 1,000 people were in attendance.

Both of these Memorial Day parades and ceremonies were very touching and meaningful. Even more so, having the youth present and participating. If these small towns can engage such a large percentage of people and involve so many, young and old, why can't the large metropolitan areas likewise attract large numbers at similar Memorial Day parades and ceremonies?

The future is in the hands of our youth. I am proud that my young boys witnessed and honored Memorial Day for the true meaning that it was meant for.