Memorial

Today is a special day for many families, especially at this trying time with so many service men and women who have died in our current war or who are over there right now battling in the name of justice. Whether we agree with the current war or not, I think we All agree that we would love to have our loved ones home in safety and with us. Throughout the ages, history has seen war and trial and people have willingly stepped forward to sacrifice their lives for what they believe will benefit the common good of man. Thank you to all who have done just that. Without you, we would not know bravery, selflessness and freedom. We are blessed to live in a nation that has so much wealth, freedom and opportunity.

Memorial day for me is my grandfather's day. In honor of him, we attended our family's home town parade. My grandfather, whom which we called Pere (when we were young we couldn't pronounce Pe'pere which is the french word for grandpa), was in the army during WWII. He lived with my family when I was about 12 years old and my most vivid memory of him was during that time. He would sit at the dinner table every night and talk non-stop about his war stories. That was a time in his life that had a huge impact on him, and understandably so. Following the war, he married my grandmother (Mere, yes we called her that for the same reason!). As the story goes, Mere was engaged at the time and my grandfather who was very much in love with her, told her he loved her and that he wanted her as his bride and then proceeded to take her engagement ring off her finger and throw it out the window. Wow...what a movie like love story! But that really is just how much he loved her until the day he died. She was his everything. He loved fishing, poker with the guys at the bar down the street, boating, bananas, and Oreo cookies. His favorite shows were Wheel of Fortune and watching wrestling on the scrambled up channel because he didn't see why he should be paying for it when he could hear what was going on and he could catch a glimpse every now and again if he watched carefully. He took a nap every day on the couch with the round orange crochet pillow my Mere had made and he loved roast beef sandwiches with mustard. Pere was a simple man, grew up with dirt floors in his home as a child and when he bought his first home (a very small cape in East Hartford), despite the fact that Mere and Pere had 5 kids, they Never moved. His home was his home.

So here's to grandfather's day and to the life my grandfather lived. Here's to the lives your grandparent's, parent's, siblings, aunt's, uncles, and children live(d). Here's to you and here's to me and here's to all who have demonstrated the same sacrificing spirit for the benefit and peace of mankind. God Bless you and thank you.