A Time to Remember

"As I was just leaving the hair salon, the receptionist wished me a happy Memorial Day. I kind of smiled and nodded, but cringed too. My husband died in a helicopter crash eight and a half months into a deployment.

"Every day for us is Memorial Day. I’ve always been puzzled by Memorial Day. It’s such an odd day to celebrate. We don’t have 9/11 sales. You don’t get a 3 day weekend for Pearl Harbor. The first one was definitely the hardest. The red, white, and blue balloons in the grocery store. The celebrations and parties, for something that is actually pretty somber. We didn’t get his body back, just boxes of his stuff.

"I have my own ritual now, where I’ll watch the video from his memorial service. I remember parts of it so well. I remember the woman in uniform who handed our 6-year-old son a folded flag. He asked me if he could unfold it, and I remember leaning down to quietly tell him he could not. And I remember seeing the woman who presented the flag crying. And then she had to give a flag to my 3-month-old. My friend was holding him. He never met his dad, and he’s got a fist in his mouth, and here she has to give him this folded triangle. And I just remember her crying.

"I can’t say it gets easier. It doesn’t. I think you just get better at handling it. I’m not sure true happiness is possible again. Every moment that should be celebrated, from the baby’s first steps to someday, the kids’ college graduations and weddings, is almost immediately overshadowed by how much I wish my husband were here to share that with us. But it does give you an unbelievable appreciation for life, and I’ve definitely learned not to sweat the small stuff. I don’t fault anyone for celebrating Memorial Day. I’ll enjoy the three-day weekend. It is the one day when everyone seems to jump on the bandwagon. But it would be so nice if people would reach out to us the rest of the year, too, and remember what the day is really about."

Family of Lt. Cmdr Landon L. Jones who died on 22 September 2013 as a result of an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter crash while operating in the Red Sea. A "go fund me" page has been set up at www.humansonthehomefront.com as a fundraiser for anyone who would like to donate to this family.


I take to heart her thoughts completely. I've always thought it strange to wish someone a Happy Memorial Day. When I was much younger, living in small-town USA. Sabina, Ohio to be exact. The Memorial Day I remember most was marching with my Brownie Scout Troop in a procession. I hesitate to call it a parade. We ended up at the cemetery. I remember it as a very solemn, reverent procession. My thoughts and prayers go out to this family and so many more just like them.

I am also reminded today of my cousin, Todd Beamer, and the other passengers that were with him on Flight 93 in 2001. They were not veterans and had not volunteered for duty. When the time came, however, they gave it their all to hopefully stop their plane from taking more lives. They lost their lives in the process but as a result, kept the plane from taking any more lives. Remembering those families as well!