Memorial Day is my favorite holiday. It has been since I was a little girl. It is the official start of Summer, and a lot of times it falls on my birthday...and Dad's, and now Izzi's. But none of those are the reasons I love this holiday so much. I remember being very, very small and watching Grandpa Goss solemnly hanging the flag on our front porch the morning of my birthday. I asked him if he was hanging the flag because it was so special that Dad and I shared a birthday. He got tears in his eyes and said "no honey, this if for Jef". Then I understood. There was something more special than any birthday on this day, it was the day we honored those who had died for us.
My memories of Memorial Day start when I was probably only 2. We would get up early Sunday morning and drive down State Street to Valley Floral to pick up the enormous red, white, and blue flower arrangement, and two smaller ones, one bronze, one yellow. I remember that all the light poles on State would have flags hanging on them that magically appeared over night. After we picked up the flowers, we would go home and pick up Dad and Grandpa and we'd make our first trip to the cemetery. Grandpa and Dad would carefully trim the grass around the edges of Jef's grave, then we would position the flowers just so...the red, white, and blue in the back, the bronze and yellow in the front. Grandpa would take a picture of me kneeling by the grave and we would walk around visiting the graves of others who were friends with Jef. There were always lots of tears, I didn't realize then that it had only been a few years since he had been killed, it was still such a fresh wound.
Monday morning we would go back to the cemetery for the flag raising ceremony and the playing of TAPS. We would meet other people there who had also lost someone, stories were shared, tears were shed. I have nothing but wonderful memories of these days. Only after all this had been done would the birthday celebrations begin, and that was fine with me. I learned very young what things are truly important, and to honor those who had served and died. I never met Jef, but he has always been my hero, and I feel him with me every day.
Jeffery Alan GossOctober 6, 1948-May 24, 1968
Buppa's headstone, another stop on our Memorial
Day visits now.
The Vietnam Veterans MemorialWashington, DC
So you see, even when I was very young, I knew the importance of Memorial Day. Even though it was sometimes on my birthday, it was never overlooked. It was never a day to go boating, or camping, or take a vacation. It was, and is, a day of remembrance. If we don't remember now, who will remember in 20? Who will pass on the amazing stories of bravery and sacrifice so they won't be forgotten?Please, take a moment this weekend to remember the true meaning of the day. The following are suggestions from the American flagpole company of simple ways we can remember and honor:
The "Memorial" in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice: by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes. by visiting memorials.
by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.
by flying the 'POW/MIA Flag' as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
by participating in a "National Moment of Remembrance": at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.
by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our fallen dead, and to aid the disabled veterans
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