In Flanders Fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses row on row

That mark our place.......

 

A poem written by John McCrae in 1915 seems to be carved in each of our brains as we remember Memorial Day.

 

Memorial Day is celebrated the last Monday in May. It is to honor the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice with their lives in defending our country.  In Europe, the poppy was one of the first flowers to reappear on the surface of the ground where the battles were fought. This is how the poppy became the symbol of Memorial Day.  The wearing of the poppy is a symbol to honor the dead.

 

Memorial Day is not celebrated as much as it once was, but we can still honor those who have given their lives to protect our freedom.

 

My father, who was an Italian immigrant came to the United States about 1911.  He became a citizen and about 1925 he enlisted in the Marine Corps.  He trained in Quantico and then served in Nicaragua. He never talked much to us about this phase of his life, but when he was ready to retire, we discovered that he said he was a year older to be able to join the Marines.  We found several pictures that he had taken but never really knew just exactly what his duties were.  We only knew that he was proud to have been able to serve our country and that he felt that only the best could make it as a Marine.

 

I have been able to secure the address of the Marine Library and am hopeful that in the very near future I will be able to secure information about his service and maybe even secure a photo.

 

Although our family was fortunate enough not to have lost a member in the service, many of them served.  My father’ my uncles Rocky, Ted, and Pete; my children's father Fray Queen; my son-in-law Dixon Pruitt; and my brother in laws, Virgil Smith and Dan Fisher all considered it an honor to serve their country.

 

As Memorial Day sort of marks the beginning of summer and now that the pandemic has calmed down, some things will return to normal.  Perhaps we will be planning vacations, going on picnics, swimming and even traveling to visit friends and relatives.  Although we may not be out of the dark with COVID, we should still be cautious with our plans and activities.

 

Take care, enjoy a great summer, and stay healthy, until next week “Now You Have Heard It Through The Grapevine.”