Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day

Memorial Day around here always means going to the local parade. Obviously it's a time to remember those who have died while serving in the US military, but it's not just serviceman and former servicemen who march in the parade. Many of the local Boy Scout and Girl Scouts march too, and representatives from other local organizations, including the town council, the local community band and the high school marching band. There is always a large variety of vehicles, most of which are very shiny and very noisy - lots of sirens and horns going! The local air force base sends a couple of planes to do a fly past at the beginning and end of the parade. The one at the end is usually very low and very loud. The kids' favorite part is usually the fact that many of those in the parade carry large quantities of candy that they throw at children sitting on the side of the road.

And when it's all done we return home to a barbecue lunch. Not the first of the season, as DH likes to grill even in the winter, but often the first with fresh corn on the cob and somehow it still marks the beginning of summer even if the forecast for later this week is for colder weather again!

All in all, Memorial Day is a lot more upbeat than Remembrance Day and if you don't catch the speeches at the cemetery after the parade, it can be difficult to make the connection between the occasion and what it is we are supposed to be remembering.
















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9 comments:

Kat said...

Sadly a lot of Americans have forgot the meaning of Memorial Day and just see it as the beginning of summer.

Nicola said...

Wow - that parade looks really cool. I wish I had known about something like that around Chicago, I am sure the kids would have loved it. And I have been here nearly 9 years and the penny finally dropped this weekend that Memorial Day weekend is all about 'grilling'.

Coding Mamma (Tasha) said...

Great pictures!

Michelloui said...

I'm really homesick now. I miss these kinds of days in the States. I even miss being able to go to the cemetery as we used to do every Memorial Day and put flowers on graves of family and friends.

Great photos!

Jane said...

I agree with you about the upbeat tone. It was only when I saw all the flags at the cemetery and my husband explained that it was the same as our Remembrance Sunday, that I realised what the 'holiday' was all about.

Blues said...

It's days like memorial day that I completely forget about living abroad. Thanks for the pictures which bring back a lot of memories.

The Prodigal Tourist said...

Agree with Kat--shame, really. On the other hand, looks like you got the full picture!

Anonymous said...

What a great parade. We didn't have one here, but we did manage to grill!!

MikeH said...

Ah, the traditional Memorial Day parade followed by the traditional Memorial Day Bar-BQ. God, how I miss those!

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