Memorial Day Memories 2023

“My parents took care of us, and we didn’t even know a war was on. We had a garden, lived on a farm and we never went without. We got 2nd hand clothes from relatives.”

“I remember being in the band and playing for everyone. My dad was a Veteran; he was in the Coast Guard. My Grandpa’s family were in WWII. A brother was a P.O.W., one lost an eye, and another did not return from the war.”

“My aunt and uncle were Vaudeville performers in the 1ST War in France, and they entertained the soldiers. They came back on a warship; we kids used to pick wildflowers to put on their graves (violets). School seemed different in the time of WWII very patriotic. At one time, we collected scrap iron for the war effort – huge piles of it. Memorial Day was important in our small town. The High School band marched through town and to the cemetery where taps were played; former soldiers marched. Families would lay flowers on graves; it was a sad/happy time.”

“My brother was a P.O.W. in WWII. It was hard on our family, hard times for everyone. We (family) always got together for Memorial Day and had a picnic. Times were tough back then and we did not have a car. Gas was rationed. Families shared (hand-me-downs) clothes and we were grateful. Kids these days have to have brand new. When my brother returned from the war, and we went to pick him up we wondered what he would look like. He looked the same.”

“On Memorial Day the honor guard would play at the Courthouse yard, members of the guard would share words of honor and celebration for those lost in war. Veterans and families would have a meal at the American Legion in town. My sister was a WAC – that was the Women’s Army Corp. Her job was office assistant much like her job in the civilian world. A high school friend and I tried to join the service as a WAC, but it was after 1949 and we were not able to at that time.”

“My brother was in the Korean War. It was after college, and it was a peace keeping mission.”

“My husband served in the Army. He took his bible with him, as it was important for him to have. During the war, I was in school. You had to save money, use stamps for things like butter and coffee. As a kid, we had to be sure not to waste anything. I still to this day do not like to see people waste food. Memories of Memorial Day as a kid were that the stores were closed. My brothers served in the military. War is just destruction and death. Women can serve in the military now and that’s ok by me…if they choose to…it wouldn’t be my choice.”

“Four generations of our family served in WWI, WWII and the Korean War, both drafted and volunteer. It is hard to think of women now carrying guns and being shot at, but it is important to have that choice. Hard to think of Russia now in this current war. What it is doing to families. War does not solve anything. We have so much gone wrong in this country now it is a scary time.”

“We went on a picnic as a family on this day. We also went to the Courthouse where a Bugler played to honor the veterans who had died in the wars. Some Veterans were there for the honor guard. We put flags on the graves as well.”