Ready. Aim. Fire.
The retort of the rifles echos back from the hills.
During my childhood, Memorial Day, Decoration Day to some of the elderly, centered around the decoration of veterans’ graves. Our small community cemeteries included veterans of the Civil War, World War I, and World War II. All of the locals who served in Korea returned to continue their lives. And until I was near the end of college, Vietnam did not claim any lives from our community.
Most of the men who organized and marched in those formations are gone now. A smaller number of American Legion post members decorate more graves.
Father and daughter on Memorial Day 1955.
Take a few minutes this weekend to ignore the picnics, swimming, and visiting to remember the men and women who served and defended this nation. Some gave their lives on the battlefield — all were prepared to do so.