My earliest Memorial Day memories are connected to my earliest days as a fledgling musician. My hometown Memorial Day parade included most of the local public school bands, and we looked forward to it every year with a sense of excitement and gravity. We prepared extensively, practiced marching along while playing our instruments, and learned the protocols and significance of the reviewing stand and the ceremony at the end of the parade route honoring so many brave souls. This early attempt at multi-tasking was not easy for little kids, but we understood we were part of a larger and more significant tradition, and we threw ourselves into the task. All these decades later, those Memorial Day parades are still deeply imprinted in my mind and soul when this holiday arrives each year.
What are your Memorial Day memories? What traditions do you have for this solemn holiday? How will you find peace and inspiration? Please share your reflections.