[Magdalen] Memorial Day Parade.

[Judy Fleener]

The Memorial Day Parade went by our house today.  We watched from the our
condo on the second floor.  There must be a new rule in Muskegon...No Candy
Throwing.  Downtown parades have been marked or marred by tons of candy
being thrown from everything in the parade.  I guess that depends on you
perspective.  I'm sure the 2 young girls across the street, sitting with
large empty bags were disappointed.  The other thing missing was politics.
No candidates today.  I cry at marching bands, ridiculous I know, but I
love them.

Political parades make me edgy.  Currently Bill and I don't stand for the
national anthem.  Partly because the occupant of the White House makes me
furious and partly in solidarity with the black football players and Colin
Kopernik. Mostly this only happens at high school sporting events.  We will
be at a grandson's graduation next week.  I'm unsure about it then.  Plus,
I think people look at us and think, "Oh, those poor old folks can't stand."

On Mon, May 27, 2019 at 11:46 AM ME Michaud <michaudme at gmail.com> wrote:

> We were talking about Memorial Day yesterday.
> One of my memories from early childhood was of the parade marching past our
> house.
> World War I veterans were still marching then and I remember my grandmother
> pointing out two  very ancient Civil War veterans being driven in an open
> car. My hometown was so committed to the Cause that, we were told, every
> man eligible to serve (and some not so eligible) signed up. These two men
> had gone in their early teens, walking from New Hampshire to Pennsylvania
> and points south with older recruits.
>
> I remember my grandmother shouting Remember the Maine as the few living
> Spanish American war veterans went by. I was shocked. I'd never heard her
> raise her voice before.
>
> I also remember standing in a hollow next to a large pond at the cemetery,
> trying to hold on to a large bundle of lilacs, while the rector delivered a
> homily and a blessing.
>
> I have a photograph of my older self marching in my Girl Scout uniform.
> -M
>


-- 
Judy Fleener, ObJN,SSH
Western Michigan