Farside42's blog: "Stuff"

As we head into Memorial Day weekend this year, I thought I'd take the time to give some thoughts I have on the holiday.

It really is making me think of my grandfather, Walter this year.

When I trace our family tree, through Walter, back several generations, we get back to John (who I believe would be Walter's Great Grandfather, but there may be more or less Greats in there. LOL!).  I bring up John because he was a Civil War veteran, who was lucky enough to make it home.  For those who weren't so lucky, like John's brother, who died in the Andersonville prison in GA, a new holiday was created so that their graves would not be ignored (at that time, the dead were burried where they died, rather than returned home).  This holiday was known as Decoration Day, and eventually became known as Memorial Day.

Walter, who was born in 1920, was among the many that received draft notices after the bombing of Pearl Harbor began World War 2, and he was assigned to be a mechanic in the Army Air Corps. 

(As an asside regarding Pearl Harbor, Walter's then future brother in law, my Grandmother's brother Caroll, had a "near miss" with that incident.  When Caroll graduated high school in the late 1930s, a friend of his wanted to join the Navy, and wanted Caroll to join with him, so that they could be given the same assignment.  Caroll had other plans for after high school, and chose not to enlist.  His friend, who did enlist, was among those who were lost in the attack on Pearl Harbor.) 

Due to his relatively poor eyesight, Walter never served overseas.  Instead, he and others like him trained faithfully for the possibility that they could be called upon to serve.  While he was dissapointed to have not seen any combat, Walter was always proud to have done his part. 

On the 2004 Memorial Day, I had the pleasure to sit and watch the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns with Walter on television.  Even then, years later, his pride for having served was still clear, as was his sorrow for those who never returned home.

Sadly, that was Walter's last Memorial Day.

So, I ask you, this year, to remember all who have served and are no longer with us.  Those whose lives were lost in combat, and those who survived to return home, but are no longer with us.  God bless them all.