I have attended Memorial Day ceremonies in the past. One of my kids play in the high school school band that marches in our community's little parade, followed by a ceremony in the middle of town. This year, the holiday has a much deeper meaner for me than I expected. My father passed away 2 months ago. He had received a purple heart while fighting in the Korean War. When I was growing up, he allowed me to touch his injured foot & elbow, but overall, it wasn't really something that was talked about. When I became an adult, he minimally talked about his war experiences if I asked but it wasn't anything he ever mentioned in conversation to others. It wasn't until after he passed away when we were writing his obituary that I learned so much more about this part of his past through my brother! It makes me sad that I spent so much time over the past several years increasingly taking my father to appointments, helping him buy groceries, mowing his lawn, making phone calls for him, driving him to the hospital for emergencies, etc but still never really getting to know him. Thankfully, my brother knew details of our father's military service and shared that info with me and my children.
Also, after months of discussion, this week we finally decided which military cemetary to have our father's remains placed. I am now in the process of getting our paperwork filed. I just feel so mixed up inside. I know there are MANY others who lose a loved one during their military service. My father passed away from cancer, decades after his service, but for some reason, today, with the gorgeous sunny weather, I find myself more wistful and sad than I have felt in weeks.
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