Hi! Linda F. here and I want to respond to this as it has many great
memories for me as well. Mine are similar to Pat's. First marching
in it as a small child and my Grandma Fahrney used to get me a
beautiful flower bouquet from her garden. I was all dressed up too
and my Mom tells the story that my Grandma would pull me and my
sister, Cheryl, out of the parade early before all the way to the
cemetery - saying "there little legs just can't take all that
walking." I think the years I did make it up to the cemetery I was
told to lay the flowers on a grave that had a flag on it - to denote
a former soldier. I love looking at the old stones that go way back
in history- like to Civil War, as I am a "history geak" and should
have been a history teacher.
Later on I can remember decorating my two-wheeler bike to ride in
the parade - maybe with Karen and Jeff Eckard as I lived close to
them. John D. - you were also in our neighborhood as well as John
Hare - just across the street from our lane -weren't you? I slightly
remember the poppies, Pat.
One of my favorite years, was the year (think Sr. year) I got to play
the snare drums in the Memorial Day parade in the early morning at
Greenville, and then at Dalton parade. Although I played different
instruments, I loved playing the snare drum. Probably in 8th grade
year, I used to march around in my back yard with an old cardboard
box around my neck and two sticks and make up drum songs. I actually
made up a drum song (that I called "The Lone Ranger" drum song) and
the Girl's Band used it for one of their drumsongs. I remember I also
got to play snare in Pep Band (for basketball games). Anyway, back
to the parade and playing the drums - the most fun was loosening the
drum till it sounded like a tom-tom and that's was played going into
the cemetery area. Till this day, I love to go to the Dalton
cemetery and look around when I come home to visit. I actually would
like to be buried there - if the Lord doesn't come before my time to
go! After all I say, that's where my roots are...in good old Dalton.
Keith G. I remember your grandfather and your father in the 11th
Regiment band. Was that name something to do with a Civil War
Regiment. Anybody know? I remember as a child going up to the band
concerts on Sat. night - again with my Grandma Fahrney (my Dad's Mom)-
she didn't drive and that was her big outing for the week. We would
also go to Bergs Dry Goods store - as she was a seamstress.
Great Memories,
Linda F.
--- In dalton59@..., "Patricia Dearolf Lee"
<pjlee123@...> wrote:
I too have many memories of Decoration Day, I always thought it got
its name because we decorated the graves of those who gave their
lives with flowers. Our tradition was to carry a big bouquet of
fresh flowers from the garden and dress in your fanciest dress and
line up for the parade which started at the park or townhall (?)
In the parade there were the kids on bicycles and veterans from
former wars that were dressed in their old uniforms marching tall
and
proud to represent their country. There was probably the guys who
played at the bandstand each saturday night also. I remember that
we
paraded thru town toward the cemetery and when we arrived their was
a
holy hush among the crowd, we stood in reverence as we listened to
the speakers, mostly former veterans. I am sure there were
trumpets
and some patriotic songs sung also. after the speeches were over
we
were dismissed to run thru the cemetery we were dismissed to
decorate
the graves of lost loved ones. My dad and my uncle both were in
the
parade and i am proud that they served their country well and the
sacrifices that they and others made. i am glad to have grown up
in
an era that had a strong sense of country and community. oh yes and
Poppy Day....I always got rooked into selling poppies and how i
remember chanting "buy a poppy for your buddy" Does anywhere still
do that? How blessed we were to be born in a small town in the
50's. --- pjlee
In dalton59@..., "jhdouglas59" <jhdouglas59@> wrote:
How many of you remember the big deal that Decoration Day was
when
you
were a kid growing up in Dalton? I still call it Decoration Day
even
though the name got changed to Memorial Day.
I remember the kids on bikes riding in the parade through town
which I
think ended at the Dalton Cemetery to honor those soldiers who
gave
their lives for our country. God bless those soldiers for what
they
did to allow the USA to keep freedom alive. I wish we still had
the
patriotic spirit in this country today. How times have changed
(not
for the better, though).
I remember being one of those kids with the bicycle and all its
decorations on it. I especially remember the cards we put in the
wheel
spokes somehow so they would make a flapping sound. Flap, Flap,
Flap.
What cheap entertainment that was. And a whole lot of fun. I
also
remember the poppy flowers pin that I got to wear. I still buy
one
every year.
Let's all remember Decoration Day this year for what it really is
for.
To recognize the many lives given for our freedom we still have
today.
And, as an aside, drive carefully, and have a great Decoration
Day
this
year.
What's your memories for Decoration Day as a kid?
The Weaselmeister
