To be remembered holds power and goodness. It can be as simple as being called by name when you were certain “they won’t remember me.” To be remembered is to celebrate worth, value, and life is not wasted.
Memorial Day, and the weekend that surrounds it, is largely a forgotten day. Or maybe I should say a “misremembered” day. It is often entered into as a long weekend, the unofficial beginning of summer, a day or weekend of cookouts and time spent by the water. There are sales on furniture, clothes, cars, and, well most anything that can be consumed has a special “Memorial Day Sale” promotion.
Somewhere along the way we have made Memorial Day and all that goes with it as a time to celebrate, and so we misremember it by thanking veterans and saluting our troops, and quickly go on to whatever else is more important to our long weekend. While there is nothing wrong with thanking our veterans for their service and as civilians saluting our troops, that is not what Memorial Day is about.
It is a day of memory and when we remember we honor. It is a day to observe and not celebrate. We do not celebrate the dead, unless of course we are celebrating the life they lived and the lives they loved.
Who do you remember on this day? I remember Bob DeLoach, who grew up with his brothers and sisters on a farm, miles outside of the small town of Eatonton. Uncle Bob was the little brother to my grandfather. Unlike my granddaddy, when Uncle Bob was old enough he left the farm for other opportunities. Like many other young men of his generation, his opportunities narrowed and was soon drafted into the army, trained in the infantry, sent to England, landed in France, marched through Germany, and was killed in action on February 15, 1945.
I have several of Bob’s “V-Mails” that he sent to my grandparents when he was overseas. A V-Mail, “Victory Mail,” was a small copied form of an original letter that could be censored and redacted before the copy reached the intended recipients. His letters were simple and at times sweet. He would often write and ask about my daddy, who was just two years old at the time. In one V-Mail he penned that he sure would like my grandmother to send him some pecans when she gets the time. He would briefly share thoughts about the war itself, but not in grandiose or poetic ways. Bob would simply write about the mud and the tents and the sound of bullets and bombs buzzing overhead. He would write about looking forward to coming home, closing with phrases like “I’ll be seeing you soon I hope.”
In nearly all of his letters he wrote about how special it was to receive a letter from home – to be remembered. I have a son serving in the Army and I know that during his basic training there is nothing more important for him than to receive an old-fashioned letter from his wife, his mother, or me. To be remembered.
On Memorial Day I will probably use this day off from work to cut my grass. I will no doubt go shopping for something, whether it is for groceries or something I think I need from the hardware store. Maybe Amy and I will go to the pool and hang out with some friends. I will display my flag on our doorpost.
I will also remember and give thanks for a life that was, and now lives on in memory. Who will you remember and what will you do because you remember? May we all choose to live more gratefully and considerately with one another.
In the rising of the sun and in its going down,
we remember them;
In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
we remember them;
In the warmth of the sun and the peace of summer,
we remember them;
In the rustling of the leaves and the beauty of autumn,
we remember them;
In the beginning of the year and when it ends;
we remember them;
When we are weary and in need of strength,
we remember them;
When we are lost and sick at heart,
we remember them;
When we have joys we yearn to share,
we remember them;
So long as we live, they too shall live,
for they are now a part of us,
as we remember them.
“Jewish Remembrance”
Gratefully,
Greg
Thanks for this post. Is this Robert Melrose Deloach (1921-1945)? If so, he was my 1st cousin, 1x removed. Could you identify the above gentlemen for me. Thank you for honoring those who have died in service defending our freedom. Blessings to you.
Thank you, Greg. Beautifully written!
It’s so good to see you blogging again…and today’s blog is certainly very timely, as many fail to realize the real meaning of Memorial Day. I pray for your son often, and appreciate his service…and I also pray for you and Amy, as I know having one of your own in the military today can cause concern. May God bless you and yours today and always.
Thank you my friend for this reminder!
Thanks, Greg, I appreciate your blog today. I see today as a somber day of remembrance. I guess celebrating our freedoms is also a way of living out Memorial Day, but for me, I like the quiet reflection path.
Thank you Greg for reminding us all in such a personal way what this day is truly about. As the fireworks were going off all around me last night I wondered how many really understand the reverence this day deserves. I hope and pray we never forget the price of freedom. Love to you and Amy and prayers for your precious son.
Thank you Greg! You always say the right thing to speak to me. We hope to he able to see you and Amy before we move.
What a wonderful reflection on Memorial Day, Greg! I pray for your son, too, as he embarks on a future with many questions and emotions running deep inside. May God give him strength to endure and a clear path of guidance in service to our country.
The JEWISH REMEMBRANCE was a priceless reminder of thoughts that, perhaps, far too many in our great land have let fade away. Your BLOG was a heartfelt reminder that Memorial Day is, indeed, a time to honor those who gave all, as well as those who came home, too! Celebration is for the Fourth of July. Thank you for sharing such a beautiful and meaningful “remembrance” about your family!
May God continue to bless you and Amy!
Very well explained as I have seen some wishing a “Happy Memorial Day”, but then apologized. The comments that followed were varied.
The young people of today have no idea what our soldiers went through during the war How is Aaron doing. I thought he loved teaching. I love that you are in a job that you love. Congratulations.
Greg,
Thank you for sharing the thoughts and sacrifice of your Uncle Bob’s service. A day to observe and reflect with a grateful heart. Prayers for Aaron’s safety and well being as he serves our country.
Both my parents came from large farm families. I had a lot of aunts and uncles growing up . My favorite was James Howard Wynn but I called him ‘Uncle Pete’. We always seemed to live near him and his wife Grace. He sold insurance and picked up people’s clothing to be cleansed. He would drop by our house and I would dance on his shoes and would tease me about being a baby when I asked my mother to. “Warm my milk”. He was drafted and sent to Germany and worked in armored tanks. When victory was declared he crawled out on top and stray bullet hit him in the temple. They named a street in Avondale for him. Thanks for reminders Greg.