by Phil Hylton

Created on: May 25, 2008

As we pause once again to honor those who have given their lives in the Defense of Liberty, we remember that one of the events that has been practiced on this day in many rural areas of
our country s the cleaning of cemetery grounds and the decorating of graves.

When we were growing up, we would often hear Mama Essie talk about going to Decoration Day. For a long time, we didn't know what she was talking about. Then, as we got a little older, and visited in Grayson County, Virginia with her family and friends, we would sometimes go to the grave sites of loved ones and 'decorate' them. In those days, and even today in some small church cemeteries around the world, the family and church graveyards are a community responsibility, and at least once each year folks from the families and churches would gather for a day of cleaning, decorating and rejoicing with each other. Often food would be served as they made a day of it.

Of course, the main reason for that activity was to remember those who had gone on before and to show respect for them by taking care of the Final Resting Place for their bodies.

Today, we celebrate that event and others on Memorial Day, which is legally celebrated on the last Monday in May each year. And, although most of us will not be part of a 'cleaning crew' in a local family or church graveyard, many of us will be 'decorating' the grave sites of our fallen heroes in cemeteries all over this land today.

Memorial Day is also a day of fun activities, recognized as the 'beginning of Summer' in our
land. Various events will be held today, with all kinds of ways to celebrate a 'day off', including parades and cookouts. The day will end with the usual concerts and fireworks displays all over our nation, with television bringing the activities to viewers everywhere. Some of those 'viewers' will be former military men and women who received injuries in the conflicts and will be unable to get 'out and about' today. We remember them as well.

It is easy to get 'choked up' on this day, especially when we watch those night time television specials that bring home to us the real meaning of this day.

However, with all of the fanfare and all of the frivolity that will be a part of this day, we will not forget the Reason for the Season ! From the Civil War to the current conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, scores of brave soldiers and other members of our armed forces have given their lives on our behalf.

We should never forget that many of them went 'in our place'

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