Memorial Day Parade

Every year we attend the Memorial Day parade as a family. Sometimes we go to the parade at home, and other times we go to the one in Versailles – our home away from home. We usually ride our bikes to the cemetery and find a spot to watch the parade as it winds to an end and the participants file into the cemetery for the official Memorial Day ceremony. This year I walked, the kids and B rode their bikes.

There are veterans, politicians, firemen, police, bands, scouts, and other community organizations that march in the parade. There are the old, middle-aged, and young. They are dressed in red, white, and blue. They carry flags, wave at the crowd, and smile. One year I marched with the cub scouts. Sometimes it’s hot, sometimes it’s cool, sometimes it’s just right, but Monday it was between too hot and just right; depending if you were in the shade or not. The parade route is a lot longer than you think, but it is nothing compared to the sacrifice our veterans have made for their country.

“Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less.”

Marie Curie (1867-1934); Chemist, Physicist, Nobel Prize Winner
from Values.com – Daily Quote – May 19, 2014

This year I took photos to post, but time got away Monday afternoon and again Tuesday, and if I don’t post today the relevance will diminished. They are below, enjoy.

Today is gonna be a great day. My kids at school are working hard, and those that aren’t will hear from me. It rained last night and dropped the temperature a bit. This morning it’s foggy, humid, cloudy, and cooler. The forecast calls for thunderstorms in the afternoon and that means O will have her 6th softball rain out. I hope not. But whether it happens or not is not up to me. I can control only me, so I’d better jump up, jump in, and seize the day. Making the Days Count, one day at a time, one parade, one celebration, one moment at a time. 

Did you make it to your parade?

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

8 thoughts on “Memorial Day Parade

    1. Thanks Phil…you are right it is always good to show our support for our servicemen and servicewomen’s sacrifice and service to our country. I can’t believe it’s the end of May. August will be here before I know it….. five more school days with kids and another of meetings then… summer. Have a great week….

  1. What a wonderful annual tradition and a fantastic way to show respect and honor for all vets, living and passed on. I think it’s terrific that your town does this and that you support it. I wish our town was a little more patriotic and I wished I didn’t live so far out in the boonies to appreciate these types of events. I love the photos!

    Take care.

    Patricia Rickrode
    w/a Jansen Schmidt

    1. Thanks…we are lucky to be so close to the ‘action’ but there is something to being away from it, too. The towns around us all have parades – my town is about 60,000 and there are several parades… my wife’s hometown has a parade, too they’re much smaller but the parade has the same elements and ends at the town cemetery for decoration of graves and a speech.. I am always thankful for the men and women of our Armed Services. Have a great week….

    1. I am beginning to collect science quotes for next year! I can’t wait to get north.. I was going to head up this weekend but… I couldn’t get away. Next weekend my daughter and I are driving up Friday night and opening it for the season…I can’t wait. Here overnight – low of 63, there low of 52… sunny warm in both places but sleeping with the windows open (especially in the northwoods)… priceless!

    1. I saw you posted this morning and the rain has ended…. Memorial Day has it’s roots in the aftermath of our Civil War when Union (north) and Confederate (south) families remembered their soldiers sacrifices. My most memorable Memorial Day was in 1997 when my wife and I were in Paris for Memorial weekend. We visited the American Cemetery in Paris at Suresnes. It was a beautiful and moving ceremony in French (which I barely I understood) and English. All American Overseas Cemeteries have Memorial Day celebrations. Youhave would have enjoyed the parade… have a great week.

Thanks for visiting MtDC. How are YOU Making YOUR Days Count?