MEMORIAL DAY... THE COST OF FREEDOM
MEMORIAL DAY PRICES...THE COST OF FREEDOM By Karen A. Lech
Spring is here (sort of) and soon to be here is Summer - and
with these much awaited Seasons, come the glorious holidays that
are part of summer celebrations, Memorial Day, and 4th of July!
I look so forward to these holidays, though I do not consider
Memorial Day a day to go out and party. According to the World
Book Encyclopedia "Memorial Day, also called Decoration Day, is
a patriotic holiday in the United States. It is a day to honor
Americans who gave their lives for their country". As a child, I
recall it was a somber day at our house. The end of the school
year was near, and we kids were chomping at the bit, eager for
summer vacation. The Sisters who taught us at St. Thecla School,
taught us to remember our soldiers and think about what these
men and women gave up for their country - families who were
without fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, uncles, cousins and
so on.
I grew up on the Northwest side of Chicago, right near the
borderline of the town of Niles and the city, about two blocks
south of St. Adalbert's cemetery. My grandfather, a WWI veteran
would take me to the cemetery on Memorial Day. There, a ceremony
complete with Twenty-One Gun salute took place about 10:00 a.m.
It was a serious day. My grandpa (he with his shrapnel-filled
legs) and I would stand and watch the ceremony, and I would
watch the tears roll down his cheeks. It was not a day of
partying, boating, etc. that was something "other people" did. I
distinctly recall, that MEMORIAL DAY PRICES...THE COST OF
FREEDOM Karen A. Lech 815/675-6791
there were many who would travel to St. Adalbert's from various
areas of the city (and beyond) by car, by bus and walking,
packing a picnic lunch to be eaten after the ceremony and
decorating gravesites before heading home. Flowers and flags
were placed with honor on graves of their beloved heroes. The
crowd observed the somber soldiers and Veterans while "Taps" was
played, hands over hearts, hats off, and sing "The Star Spangled
Banner". The echoing booms of the salute shattered the air with
"bullets" that fired our hearts with remembrance of lives lost
and appreciation. This was Remembrance Day, Decoration Day. .
.Memorial Day. These sights and sounds branded a memory on the
tender part of my mind, an impression like a hand print in wet
cement, hardening forever the values of patriotism, love of
country, respect.
Today finds many Americans celebrating Memorial Day as the
"beginning" of the summer season, a day to relax, and a weekend
to get away. The Memorial Day Sales are now of other
paraphernalia of life, not only flags and wreaths to place on
graves. Today also finds the United States in war time. Today
also finds our fellow Americans on foreign soil, dying while
serving their country, preserving freedom, freedom to go out in
our cars, boats, freedom to fly "friendly"skies, freedom to
enjoy a holiday that has been observed in the United States
since Civil War times. MEMORIAL DAY PRICES...THE COST OF FREEDOM
Karen A. Lech 815/675-6791
This coming Memorial Day, May 31st, 2004, is a special day in my
home. My twin daughters will turn the magic age of thirteen.
They informed me they have to attend a Memorial Day ceremony at
school on their birthday, as they are band members. I will tell
them what an honor it is, on their birthday(s) to participate in
helping people in our community give tribute to so many. We will
talk about our soldiers overseas who are celebrating their
birthdays in a much different way, and some who may be
celebrating their birth into Heaven this very day, far away from
home and family. We will leave the ceremony more thoughtful,
more considerate, and more respectful of our fellow man. I hope
this Memorial Day will imprint on their minds how fortunate we
are to be Americans, and how very dear the cost of freedom is.
MEMORIAL DAY PRICES...THE COST OF FREEDOM Karen A. Lech
815-675-6791
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