All week long I have been quietly hoping for a return trip to the hospital to visit my uncle before he goes home. I almost missed my chance when they said he could go home today. Aunt Mary was on her way to get him when Mom got another phone call from my cousin. They decided to keep him in the hospital another night. Bad for him, good for me. I jumped at the opportunity. What a relief to see him smile and hear him tell his stories. We had to laugh when he asked Hannah what grade she is in. "Ninth," she replied. "You're a big girl!" he said, "Either that or you flunked a lot!" He has an interesting way with words... Aunt Mary said it wasn't nice, but we know that is really how he says, "I love you."
Monday was Memorial Day. I had purchased a small American flag, which I hoped to place on my grandfather's grave in a nearby cemetery. This is not an annual tradition, in fact I don't know if there has ever been a flag placed there. Sadly, I did not find the time to go to the cemetery on Monday, but I did take a little bit of time this afternoon to drive out and look around for my grandpa's grave and military marker. It took a little while, but I finally found the spot and placed the flag.
And now, I am off to the kitchen to see if those very ripe bananas are still suitable for banana bread. Maybe this will be a productive day after all!
Monday was Memorial Day. I had purchased a small American flag, which I hoped to place on my grandfather's grave in a nearby cemetery. This is not an annual tradition, in fact I don't know if there has ever been a flag placed there. Sadly, I did not find the time to go to the cemetery on Monday, but I did take a little bit of time this afternoon to drive out and look around for my grandpa's grave and military marker. It took a little while, but I finally found the spot and placed the flag.
The Star Spangled Banner Lyrics
ReplyDeleteBy Francis Scott Key 1814
Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming?
Whose broad stripes and bright stars thru the perilous fight,
O'er the ramparts we watched were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket's red glare, the bombs bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there.
Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?
On the shore, dimly seen through the mists of the deep,
Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:
'Tis the star-spangled banner! Oh long may it wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
And where is that band who so vauntingly swore
That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,
A home and a country should leave us no more!
Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
We don't read those wonderful words often enough.
ReplyDeleteThanks Martha!
Leaving the hospital and cemetery in one day with a smile on your face....now, that IS a happy and productive day! ;)
ReplyDeleteI thought you had a very productive day, visiting Mom, making headway on Uncle Chuck's album, eating at Moe's with your sister and daughter, visiting your uncle, and visiting your grandpa's grave.
ReplyDeleteI'll take a piece of banana bread...please. :9
Will my Grandpa's grave have a marker?
ReplyDeleteI'm going to look into that this week, Beth. I don't want it to go unmarked, just have to find out our options and then plan a day and a time.
ReplyDeleteI loved this. It's strange that I never saw his grave before. I think we should try to make it a tradition.
ReplyDelete