Memorial Day weekend 2019

[FarmerJamie]

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who gave their lives for this country and the families who love and miss them.

Part of my 2019 reboot is stepping up my volunteer work. Our group posted close to 3,000 flags the past 3 days.

Today's cemetery used to be a big event, with multiple groups helping. I was sad on the drive home, so many of the American Legion folks we have worked with over the years are gone. The folks that showed up had no energy, none of the former zeal. Our group covered the most ground we have ever covered. Plus we went over 2 other large sections another group did, where they missed easily 20% of the veterans.
Several families stopped me (I had a unit shirt on with "STAFF" on the back to thank us. One older gentleman from the Korean War era, broke down thanking us because he feels the country doesn't care any more about the previous sacrifices made.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

You did a great thing! It is a day for us to really remember those who gave up so much for us.

 

[Mini Horses]

One older gentleman from the Korean War era, broke down thanking us because he feels the country doesn't care any more about the previous sacrifices made.

I am sad to say, he may well be correct. The Nation we live in now takes so very much for granted and many do not even realize what previous wars were fought and why. The unity seen then & now is 360 apart. Values are entirely different.

I thank you for honoring those veterans!!

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Double what Mini said.

 

[FarmerJamie]

Waiting for the parade to make its way to the cemetery for today's ceremony.

This is a centuries old cemetery, going back to the early 1800s.

Lots of majestic rhododendron bushes in the oldest sections. I tried doing some research on symbolic meaning and just found way too much info.

Does anyone have any insight? (@Beekissed ?)

 

[milkmansdaughter]

Today, if you see a veterans grave, leave a penny. You're paying your respects and people will know someone was there. A nickel is if you trained or went to boot camp with the soldier/sailor/airman. A dime is if you served with the person. If you see a quarter on a grave, it means that that grave was visited by someone who was with that person when they died.

@FarmerJamie we also usually put flags on the graves. We didnt get to do that this year, but I'm hoping to help take them off. I belonged to a very active American Legion group in Wisconsin, but haven't transferred to one here in Alabama yet.

 

[Beekissed]

I got nothin', FJ. Found this article....

https://www.wvgazettemail.com/life/...cle_fa0b7573-9dd2-5773-9c37-a9bdb37122a1.html

I don't visit graves, so don't much about cemetery lore...our family just never did that kind of thing.

 

[FarmerJamie]

Another depressing milestone. The speakers usually ask for veterans of each era to identify themselves by conflict. No WWII vets present this year.

Positive though, the three youth from the group did their recitations.

 

[CrealCritter]

The most decorated funeral I ever attended was in Durham NC. One of our friends was a state police officer. His wife delivered a baby boy who dies at birth. They are Coptic Christians and death of a child is very serious business of the coptic church. The funeral persesion consisted of over 500 cars/trucks. There were at least 20 police motorcycles along with 4 squad cars infront and at the rear of the persesion. The motorcycles would leapfrog intersection to intersection to stop traffic and salute the persesion as it passed. We Traveled over 10 miles trough the city from the Coptic church to the grave yard non stop. It must have been something to see, if you were waiting for the persesion to pass at an intersection.

 

[tortoise]

The most decorated funeral I ever attended was in Durham NC. One of our friends was a state police officer. His wife delivered a baby boy who dies at birth. They are Coptic Christians and death of a child is very serious business of the coptic church. The funeral persesion consisted of over 500 cars/trucks. There were at least 20 police motorcycles along with 4 squad cars infront and at the rear of the persesion. The motorcycles would leapfrog intersection to intersection to stop traffic and salute the persesion as it passed. We Traveled over 10 miles trough the city from the Coptic church to the grave yard non stop. It must have been something to see, if you were waiting for the persesion to pass at an intersection.

I've seen one funeral that would compare. A police officer was killed in duty a couple years ago. Really nice guy with three young kids. Very sad. :'(