Memorial Day

This morning we went up to the cemetery for the Memorial Day service our local VFW puts on. It wasn't the most pleasant weather. It's been cold all weekend, and this morning it was snowing hard.

When we first got there, the flakes were big and wet, and the ground was covered with about 2 inches of snow.

It wasn't terribly cold though, just wet. And half way through the service, the snow stopped, and it got to be pretty warm.

They always do a nice ceremony with presentation of wreaths and flowers, and some of the local homeschoolers sing patriotic songs. This year they did the Armed Forces Medley, and a choral reading about the Pledge of Allegiance. Two high school seniors also read reports they had written about their grandfathers who had served in the military. They were scholarship winners from the VFW, and some of the stories they told were pretty interesting.

It was very special to us to be able to celebrate Memorial Day with our 20 year old son, who has just returned safely from a 6 month deployment to Iraq. (He wasn't in uniform because he only has his fatigues with him while he visits here, and he felt that it would be disrespectful - like showing up to the ceremony in his work clothes.) He came back safe and sound, where so many others have not (from all the different wars). We are grateful to God for His protection over our son. I don't think I will ever miss another Memorial Day service again, or take one for granted either. I have a whole new appreciation for our military men and women.

There was a Navy Warrant Officer who read about the history of Memorial Day.

My son enjoyed visiting with him after the ceremony. In fact, he visited with several of the veterans.

And of course there was the 21 gun salute and Taps.

This picture shows you how much worse the weather was when we first arrived, compared to the picture before which was taken at the end of the ceremony when they did the 21 gun salute. After the service at the cemetery, we went to the VFW for lunch. It was all very nice.

This afternoon, my husband, the 20 year old and 7 year old all went out target practicing. They had a nice time, but someone called them in for suspected poaching because apparently there was a herd of elk nearby. Of course there can't be a herd of elk nearby when it is legal to shoot them. They had a nice visit with the sheriff's deputy who told them to enjoy their day. I guess it's good that people care about poaching enough to report the suspicion of it. It makes for a fun memory for them anyway.