Memorial Day 2020

     Because of the corona virus much of California, indeed most of the U.S. and much of the world, is largely shut down.  Gatherings of all kinds cancelled.  Including Mt. Vernon Memorial Park's (Fair Oaks, CA) annual Memorial Day event - a most stirring, inspiring, meaningful tribute to our fallen. We have observed Memorial Day there for decades now.  What  Memorial Day be without it?
     David knew.  He suggested that we visit our own kindred dead who served our country and who lie buried conveniently close by - at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery less than a mile from my home.   David and Teresa had 20 small flags.  Miriam made 30 decorations from ribbons and small wooden stars.

My great uncles Thomas and Esque Frost are buried here.  It was Esque who inspired us to visit. We all knew and love Esque.   (Their older sister, my grandmother, Aurora Marie Frost McGinness, was cremated and supposedly scattered over the forest in the Sierra Nevadas.  Unfortunately, years later it was discovered that some of the contractors did not scatter the ashes as hired, but dumped them in some yard.) We will think of her is being in the beautiful places she loved. Well, really, I will think of her as being in much more beautiful place. 

 Back to my story.  The Saturday before Memorial Day (observed)  David, Teresa, Joseph, Andrew, and I biked to St.  Mary's.

  We trimmed the edges of our family gravestones and placed flags. 

My bio father's father, a good and loving man.

After tending our family graves, we randomly placed our flags and little decorations on veteran's graves.

Holding up samples of the decorations Miriam made.  I am holding mine backwards so you can see she made them look good on both sides.

Andrew in the back; Joseph, Barbara, David; Teresa at camera

The following Saturday we picked up what we could find of our decorations.  The cemetery needs everything cleared by the 1st.  
We learned that low temp hot glue does not hold up well in a heat wave.

Words cannot express our gratitude for the freedoms we enjoy in this promised land.  We mourn the losses and the pain their families felt.  We  appreciate all who have served and sacrificed.