We Remember...

What does Memorial Day mean to you? To many people (me included) it means the official beginning of summer, the Indy 500, opening day for the neighborhood pool, and permission to wear white shoes (taboo during all other seasons!). The weekend is filled with lots of family togetherness at parades, picnics, and barbecues. It's also fun to take advantage of all the Memorial Day sales at the local stores and online too.  The activities of this weekend in May each year are definitely highlights on the social calendar, but let's not forget the real meaning of the day. Memorial Day is observed each year on the last Monday in May. It is in fact a U.S. federal holiday established to pay tribute to our military veterans, specifically the courageous men and women of the United States Armed Forces who have died while in the service of our country. In addition, many families also take the opportunity on this special weekend to remember dear family members whom no longer have a physical presence in their lives. So to continue the tradition set by my parents (and their parents before), we made our commemorative Memorial Day cemetery rounds today.  We usually visit the deceased military members of our family interred at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery on the the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. This is the day when the area Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Venturers gather to place an American flag on all 189,000 plus graves.  It is a sight to behold! This year we have a possible threat of bad weather on Sunday causing us to decide to pay our respects earlier today. So in the midst of all the fun activities this weekend offers, please set aside a few minutes to remember and give thanks for those whom have died while serving our Nation to preserve our principles and freedoms. We at Zoey's Attic remember and wish all our friends a safe and enjoyable holiday.

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery