Aside from all the military related activities over the years, I fondly recall laying on a lounge chair in the backyard on a warm sunny day, in the shade, with a tart lemon drink in hand listening to the Indy 500 on radio. Yes this was in my pre-teen years.

I think about parades. Ones I went to as a kid. Ones I was in. Lots of them.

I have to laugh at the idea of them closing down those same roads today. It would cause a traffic nightmare for 15 miles on all directions, it would never happen now days.

Went to the Indy 500. Parked in the infield. Impressive. Once in a lifetime experience.

My mom called it “Decoration Day.” There were peonies that grew in our yard, irises too. Both were in bloom when Memorial Day came around. I remember black ants on the peonies as we went out to cut them to take to the cemeteries. My dad and uncles were WWII veterans, but my grandfather (dad’s dad) was a WWI vet and his was one of the graves we “decorated.”

I also have distinct memories of watching the 500 on actual Memorial Day.

My father passed away Memorial Day Weekend 2008. My mother passed away Memorial Day Weekend 2018.

SW_Sig, sorry to read that. My condolences.

We used to have a local racetrack that my brother in law raced at. I remember having a picnic at my Dad's place and then going down to the track for the Memorial Day races. Good times.

Many years ago, we always had Memorial Day services at our rural church cemetary. "Avenue of Flags" at the entrance. VFW gave a 21 gun salute. I played Taps many times. Flyovers by F-16's from the local Air National Gaurd in later years (i.e. the 80's). My parents called it Decoration Day as well. Many graves were decorated with flowers.

In the 50' and 60's, it was a very solemn occasion. As my Dad got older, he would complain that Memorial Day was becoming too commercialized.

In my younger days it was always called Decoration Day. The whole family took flowers to the cemetery to decorate the graves. The whole little town did the same. A solemn time.

When was a very young boy, on Decoration Day, I went with my grandparents to meet with older relatives who took flowers to the cemetary and decorated some of their fathers/mothers and grandparents, etc., some of whom were Civil War Veterans or the widows of those veterans.

Very somber day for all of us.

This is a day I generally spend at home, thinking of those I knew that didn't come back like I did. I think each Memorial Day gets a little tougher for me, maybe 'cause I'm now older than my grandparents were back on that Decoration Day long ago.

Still a very somber day.

Bob

Over the past several Memorial Day weekend memories include having attended services at a local cemetary that honors all fallen veterans.. They start with a helicopter fly over / then a Rolling Rumble ( motorcycle) entrance / Posting of the National Colors by a local high school Jr. ROTC detail /reading of the names of all veterans from our parish (county)by a local VFW Post that have passed during the previous year / several speakers / VFW rifle salute / and finally a rendering of Taps.... Somber day of Rememberance . .................God bless our troops be they past/present/and future. ................................... drill sgt.