"I Am Always Remembering..."

The Graves of My Parents

Yesterday was "Decoration Day" now more popularly known as "Memorial Day" and my day was filled with the rituals of my childhood. We're patriots in our family, we proudly fly our nation's flag at home. Every Memorial Day at 12 Noon I replace the flag that has flown for the previous year with a new one. It's a small way of expressing love for one's country and for those who paid the greatest price to secure the blessing of liberty for the next generation. 

After I retired last year's colors, husband accompanied me to the cemetery to tend my parent's graves. I trim the sod from around their memorials (yes, grave markers are known as "memorials," and that is where the day's name comes from) and then I wash the bronzes and their stones. Then I decorate their graves. For Mother, it's always roses and for Dad, a crisp new American flag symbolizing and honoring his service and sacrifice to the country during World War II.

While I'm always moved by strong emotion as I perform this act of love and service for my parents, this year was especially unique as a bagpiper was in the cemetery. While I was on my knees in the bright sun scrubbing my mother's memorial, a shadow fell over me and I looked up to see the bagpiper in full Scottish regalia standing over me. He asked who I was honoring and I told him they were my parents and he asked if I'd mind if he played for the them. I said of course I wouldn't mind and with that he took a step back and began to play "Amazing Grace." In a moment my tears were falling as I scrubbed and polished. When he finished, I dried my eyes and shook his hand while thanking him for his kindness. He said, "I see your father was a veteran." I replied "Yes, U.S. Navy, as am I."  To which he responded, "How about a couple more tunes for you and your dad?" I nodded and he began to play "Anchors Aweigh" and then "My Country Tis Of Thee" and finally, "Eternal Father (The Navy Hymn)" As I finishing cleaning my Father's memorial, I stood again and thanked the friendly Scotsman as he departed saying, "It was an honor to play for you and your parents."

Not unsurprisingly, my husband had wandered away while all this was happening. This is not part of his family traditions and childhood remembrances. But he indulges me in my continuance of these rituals of my own childhood. As the bagpiper was departing, I scanned the horizon and I spotted husband standing off about 50 yards away. I motioned for him and he wandered back as I gathered my shovel and cleaning supplies and said my goodbyes at my parents' graves. 

I am always remembering...