Memorial Day was first called Decoration Day by General John A Logan on May 30, 1886 to commemorate the graves of the soldiers who fell during the Civil War. I once heard that he was inspired by compassion for the number of confederate soldier graves in the north that had no one to decorate them. In the 20th Century the holiday was changed to Memorial Day to commemorate all fallen soldiers in battle. Today it is also celebrated as a day for people to decorate the graves of their loved ones. It is a beautiful celebration yet one that causes me a bit of a dilemma for in this day and age so many people are cremated.
Five years ago my husband died and in accordance with his wishes I had his body cremated and his ashes scattered on the 70 acre ranch we owned in the mountains of southern Colorado. The memorial service was held on Memorial Day weekend both because it was a convenient time for his and my family to attend but also because it is the weekend of our wedding anniversary. So Memorial Day weekend holds a very special place in my heart. But because there is no grave for me to decorate, I must do something different. So in this blog I will decorate his memory.
Gary was one of the nicest people I know. He had a true desire to learn and to know others. He was not comfortable in a crowd but when he was one on one he could delve into another person's life and know them deeply. It was this quality that so touched the hundreds of people who remember him. He was an incredibly talented artist, a good son, a good uncle, a good husband and the best of friends, especially to me. He was one of the few people in this world who I could be totally myself around. He was a deeply spiritual man and was a huge influence in my own spiritual growth. So on this Memorial Day weekend I decorate the memory of my dear departed husband, who has been sorely missed and is loved to this day. Happy Memorial Day to you Gary, wherever you are!
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