Honoring our fallen on Memorial Day 2013

The NorthwoodsGratitude and Honor Memorial is a place for reflection and honor, a place that we have each gone to thank those lost and mourn for their families. My family has gone there for September 11, Veteran's Day and Memorial Day each year together. Together we honor the names on the walls, read the names of the most recent fallen and say a prayer for their families; it's a tradition that we wish we didn't have to have.

Leaving roses and gifts for David

Love and messages to heaven

This year we again visited on Memorial Day but this year was a little bit different, this year we went to honor Miss Salina's husband while she is away completing her thesis research paper. We went to honor David, her husband, among the rest. As Grant purchased roses (Red was David's favorite), Krystina requested an additional dozen so she could leave one for each Hope, Lauren and Justin's daddy Mark, 1 for Makenzie's daddy Jamie, 1 for mommy's friend Jared.... and her list continued until we decided to leave 1 rose at the bottom of each list of names in addition to the 6 roses for David (1 for each missed Memorial Day) and the gummy bears she swore he needed.

As the ceremony started we listen intently to each Gold Star family that spoke, listened to the song from each branch and stood up when it as time to read the newest names of heroes on the wall. Krystina and I each read our names, honored each man saying his name loudly and so no one could forget his sacrifice. I am always so proud of the way Krystina looks at this, she makes sure she practices each name and says them with ease.

At the end of the ceremony Taps is played in echo... I can't explain every feeling and emotion that goes through me hearing each note played with perfection. Taps was played when my Grandfather died and I will never forget being 8 years old and hearing the trumpets played, listening to the 21-Gun salute wishing it would stop and my Grandfather would cuddle me. I can't imagine the feeling of being a wife looking at your husband’s flag draped coffin or being a child looking at your father/mother's flag folded and handed to your parent crying knowing this was the last moment you have with your loved one.




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