Memory Lapse

memorial day came and went and i am to be reminded of what exactly? just before blogging this entry i googled “memorial day” and found this website www.usmemorialday.org and found this in the “How to Observe” section:

The “Memorial” in Memorial Day has been ignored by too many of us who are beneficiaries of those who have given the ultimate sacrifice. Often we do not observe the day as it should be, a day where we actively remember our ancestors, our family members, our loved ones, our neighbors, and our friends who have given the ultimate sacrifice:

• by visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes.
• by visiting memorials.
• by flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon.
• by flying the ‘POW/MIA Flag’ as well (Section 1082 of the 1998 Defense Authorization Act).
• by participating in a “National Moment of Remembrance”: at 3 p.m. to pause and think upon the true meaning of the day, and for Taps to be played.
• by renewing a pledge to aid the widows, widowers, and orphans of our falled dead, and to aid the disabled veterans.

among all the festivities, barbeques, graduations, “insert activity of choice”, etc. i wonder what the percentage of Americans today actually observe at least one of the suggested items above?

i had intended to visit my grandfather’s grave last weekend in Loma Linda. however, the thought slipped my mind. i think we move at such a rapid and frantic pace that even a day like memorial day, we forget to just stop and contemplate how far we’ve come, assess where we are, and reevaulate whether our goals are still valid. my intention to visit the grave is more like a ground zero of sorts. it was in Loma Linda where i spent my first eight years of my life. after serving as missionaries in Taiwan for the following six years, my family returned to Loma Linda. then two years we left to the Bay Area where i am to this day only to visit Loma Linda on occasion.

i didn’t take the opportunity to revisit the memorial that i wanted but instead choose to make some new ones with friends and family… and that’s good too. but if there’s a sliver of time that i can use to pause for a bit, i would be an idiot to not take advantage of that.