At the Cemetery

I'm not sure how old I was when I learned that Memorial Day was for remembering active service members who had died in war.  (It wasn't mentioned in school since summer break started mid-May.)  I thought it was a Day of Rememberance of anyone who had died.  My grandparents certainly placed flowers on the graves of family members and old friends who I know weren't ever in the services.  This morning Phil and I continued the rite as our grandparents had taught us by placing actual flowers out on family  graves.   Phil put a vase of cut lilac's from the farm on our grandparent's gravesite.  They needed water - not a problem.  Sixty years ago my grandfather had showed me where, amongst the gravestones, to find the water spigots.  The arrangements all look nice and it's a feel good moment to remember the past.   There is something to be said for ritual.