My childhood memories of Memorial Day do not involve parades, picnics, or speeches. My maternal grandparents were busy cutting flowers and filling baskets for Decoration Day (another name for Memorial Day). Then all their extended family visited the nearby cemetery and “decorated graves.” My grandparents placed flowers on the graves of generations of their two families. I think this was customary in the 1940s, because decades later I found out that my other grandparents, who lived 200 miles away, did something similar. I have way too many relatives in these cemeteries to continue this custom. Yet, I want to remember my parents and grandparents. I remember them living faith-filled lives, lives dominated by themes of hope and encouragement. My grandparents struggled to feed families of 12 and 13 during the depression. They were poor people, and they had parents who were adversely affected by alcohol. I will not be decorating all the graves, but I will be remembering these six people by contributing to their message of hope and encouragement. I am purchasing crayons, giving to Rosecrance to save lives from substance abuse issues, and giving to the curriculum needs of our own Sunday School and Youth programs. Is there someone in your family whom you can remember by giving to one or more of these causes?
Maylo Hranac, Mission Team Member, CUMC