This weekend America will celebrate Memorial Day Weekend. It’s a holiday that can be bittersweet for many people. I look forward to enjoying this long weekend.
It’s an opportunity to gather with family members, a time for reflection and visiting cemeteries to remember those who have passed on before us.
By going to the cemeteries, we can take time to pay respect to those loved ones, even if it’s but for a few moments.
My wife Pat and I normally decorate graves at four different cemeteries in Shawnee and Oklahoma City too.
We go to Resurrection and Fairlawn Cemetery in Oklahoma City where both of my mothers, my dad, brother, two sets of grandparents, two aunts and an uncle were laid to rest.
At Resthaven and Fairview in Shawnee is where Pat’s dad, sister, grandmother and other relatives are buried.
Sometimes, just Pat and her mom will decorate the graves in Shawnee. Last year I joined them and the plan is again that I will help them this year.
My biological mother has been dead for almost 69 years.
My dad was a World War II veteran and this August will mark 32 years he has been gone.
My uncle also served his country for eight years in the Air National Guard.
At this time of year, I try and reflect on those family members who have gone on to their resting place. One of my aunts died at the age of 16, several years before I was even born, but she’s in several pictures that were passed down to me.
For those who have suffered the loss of a loved one, especially recently, I can understand that feeling.
Twenty-two years ago we buried my brother on the Saturday, May 23, of Memorial Day Weekend.
This Saturday is May 23.
Usually one day during this weekend, we gather to celebrate the birthdays on Pat’s side of the family. We are planning to do that this weekend.
In addition to Pat’s and mine that are in May, we also have three others that occur this month, including her mother’s, her sister’s and our niece.
We also celebrate our daughter Meghan’s that was in February and our son-in-law Terry’s whose birthday is in June and our grandson Liam’s who will be in August.
In the past, we have gathered at Pat’s mother’s home and we’ve done it at our home as well.
A couple of years ago it was at our home. It’s always an enjoyable time. Nothing fancy, not the exchanging of a bunch of gifts. Just eating and visiting and having fun.
It’s a family gathering, time to eat good food, just visit and relax, be with one another.
Last year because everyone couldn’t get together, we didn’t gather.
I’m really looking forward to it this year.