Happy Memorial Day!
Those of you across the pond may have little idea what Memorial Day is - I certainly didn't. It's a bit like Remembrance Sunday in the UK, where everyone remembers those who died for their country in wars. Of course America is still at war, so for many it is even more poignant, particularly the "gold star" families, who have lost relatives in Iraq.
In England we remember the dead in a quiet way. Laying wreaths of poppies at war memorials, somber marches, that kind of thing. If nothing else, the British believe in dignity.
In the mid-west of America, it may not exactly be an excuse for a party, but it is a time for concerts, parades and much flag waving.
My new friend Jill insisted we should be her guest at the Naperville Memorial Day parade. The main aspect of military precision turned out to be not with those involved in the parade, but those spectating.
"We must get there early for a good spot," said Jill. "My husband will go along at 6 a.m. to put the chairs out. I have to drop my son off at school at 7 a.m., so I'll be round to you at 9."
Six, seven, nine? On a bank holiday?
When we arrived just after nine, the streets of downtown Naperville were already lined with garden chairs and blankets. If you did this in England, they would all have been stolen before you arrived, but the God fearing folks of Naperville would never consider such a thing. In fact I'm surprised they didn't provide free picnics and pillows.
A mere two hours later, the parade began. It consisted of some very proud old veterans of World War Two and every child who lives in Naperville. Every high school had a marching band, every scout and brownie troop some exhausted kids dragging themselves around the route.
Row after row of youngsters marched by. The flautists seemd positively perky; the euphonium players less so as they struggled under the weight of their instruments.
"They must be so tired," I commented to Jill, watching some being pulled along in little wagons by their parents.
"I don't know why," she sneered. "The route's less than a mile long".
In England we remember the dead in a quiet way. Laying wreaths of poppies at war memorials, somber marches, that kind of thing. If nothing else, the British believe in dignity.
In the mid-west of America, it may not exactly be an excuse for a party, but it is a time for concerts, parades and much flag waving.
My new friend Jill insisted we should be her guest at the Naperville Memorial Day parade. The main aspect of military precision turned out to be not with those involved in the parade, but those spectating.
"We must get there early for a good spot," said Jill. "My husband will go along at 6 a.m. to put the chairs out. I have to drop my son off at school at 7 a.m., so I'll be round to you at 9."
Six, seven, nine? On a bank holiday?
When we arrived just after nine, the streets of downtown Naperville were already lined with garden chairs and blankets. If you did this in England, they would all have been stolen before you arrived, but the God fearing folks of Naperville would never consider such a thing. In fact I'm surprised they didn't provide free picnics and pillows.
A mere two hours later, the parade began. It consisted of some very proud old veterans of World War Two and every child who lives in Naperville. Every high school had a marching band, every scout and brownie troop some exhausted kids dragging themselves around the route.
Row after row of youngsters marched by. The flautists seemd positively perky; the euphonium players less so as they struggled under the weight of their instruments.
"They must be so tired," I commented to Jill, watching some being pulled along in little wagons by their parents.
"I don't know why," she sneered. "The route's less than a mile long".
posted by Hilary at
6:03 PM
1 Comments:
Sorry, but a lot of those "old" vets are from Viet Nam and Operation Enduring Freedom as well as some from Afghanistan and Iraq, in addfdition to the "old" WW II vets. They come from the American Legion Post #43 and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #3873, though to march with the vets you don't have to belong to either. The two Posts always organize the Memorial Day Parade and about 75,000 people watch the parade.
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Anonymous, at 2:58 PM
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