What do you folks typically do for Memorial Day? What about this year? Does it have anything to do with the fact that we are remembering our war dead? Just curious. Seems to have become Opening Day of Summer (at least as far as retailers and movie theatres go).

My father is buried at the National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. That's just a little too far to drive to for remembering him "in person" based on the traffic congestion and stuff (190 miles slogging through megalopolis traffic from Everett to Portland via I-5 corridor). Still, I remember him specifically on this day (for his WWII contribution)and also for just being my dad. This is the 25th anniversary of his death (actually Fourth of July weekend).

Other than that, we're going to E. Washington for hopefully some sun (*pouring* rain and 53 here today on the W side). Probably drink beer, barbecue, and all those other "traditional" things...

Do you picnic? Plant your garden? Wear sunscreen? Fly the flag?

-- Anonymous, May 27, 2004

Answers

My flag flys 24/7 on a lighted staff. On Memorial day , I do as I do on any holiday... business as usual on my knoll and stay off the roads and out of Walmart until midnight. Actually thats what I do everyday , so I will change my answer to "nothing special"

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2004

Like Jay, our flag is up 24/7. I need to make up a new flower saddle for Mom's grave, but may end up just buying one instead. I have been doing the OT thing again - 8/10 days with one more shift scheduled for Sat night. I am off on Sunday night, so my cousins Julie and Laurie Ann plan to come out and pick strawberries; then I will teach them how to make jam - before I collapse in bed. I have to work again Monday night, so Monday day will be spent doing laundry and pulling weeds in the garden. John will undoubtably cook something on the grill Sunday - I'm just not certain what it will be! Unless I can talk Pop into going in to town for KFC! Hubs is planning to go to the motocross track Saturday - was planning on racing, but right before I left for work, a guy called and wanted to come out to look at his bike with an eye toward buying it! He's been wanting to build a vintage motocross bike anyway, so he isn't too upset. Pop will probably be in and out like he always is. Uncle Ivan and Aunt Susan have brought their camper down and will be spending the weekend on the farm - working in the garden, most likely! And that is pretty much what we will all be doing! Hope you all have a safe holiday!

-- Anonymous, May 28, 2004

We've made an offer on a house in Minneapolis (weird,I know) and are waiting for a response. Our offer was ridiculously low so they might tell us to go jump. Have made no plans for the weekend otherwise (it's raining all weekend anyway!;cant say as we've ever paid much attention to memorial day in my family actually. My parents always go up north and visit their parents graves,so I suppose it's within the realm of possibility that I might do that some day when they are gone, although I have always found the ritual to be somewhat morbid and creepy. I've just never felt my grandparents'presence when I've visited their graves, but have felt it when visiting where they used to live.

This thread makes me very thankful for how fortunate I am to still have both my parents. They came by the bakery this week with mom's oldest sister (88) who is visiting from Arizona (for memorial day of course;she makes the trek up north every year too).Haven't seen her in several years........a wonderful woman,much more loving and open than my poor ol' fearful mother.......was a great visit!

I expect we'll fly a flag when we move to town. Not something I would have ever expected to do, but I think it's important for people who are against the policies of this demented administration to express both those sentiments (peace flags, anti-war signs in windows,which are very ubiquitous in Minneapolis) and our national flag together. Seems the truly patriotic thing to do.

No more death and destruction for greed and arrogance.

-- Anonymous, May 29, 2004

Our family never had a tradition of decorating the graves on Memorial Day so it's not something that I think of now. The cemetary was right on our way into town so we'd usually stop by every couple of weeks anyway.

Keith was in the Army for almost 10 years, but since he was stationed in Germany during the late 80's/early 90's and never saw any action I don't really think of him as a veteran. Maybe that's wrong of me...

-- Anonymous, May 31, 2004