Remembering Unknown Veterans on Memorial Day

I belong to the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Alton, Illinois chapter and a few days before each Memorial Day we visit two cemeteries in the Alton-Godfrey area to place small United States flags on the graves of veterans. The two cemeteries are St. Patrick's in Godfrey, located on Route 3 and St. Joseph's in Alton, located across the street from St. Anthony's Hospital. These flags were given to us from a lady that puts flags on the graves of veterans at other cemeteries and she gets them from the generous donations of local chapters of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and area businesses. I agreed to participate in placing the flags on the graves of these brave veterans, not thinking much about the actual task. I figured with several of us doing it, that it might require an hour or so of my time to do this simple thing.

I was right about the time, but I was unprepared as to how this simple task affected my thoughts and emotions. It started out very easily, as one lady brought the flags, she stored them from year to year, and we all took a few and started placing them alongside the tombstone of each veteran's grave. It is easy to find a veterans grave, because the tombstone will have the person's name, their rank and branch of service, what war(s) they were in and their date of birth and date of death.

As I walked along, searching for tombstones of veterans, I began really reading and thinking about these men and women, some of which not only served our country but died defending it and our freedom. A flood of emotions came over me. I felt pride, sorrow, sympathy, and even guilt overwhelm me as I strolled along the many rows in search of veteran markers.

At first I felt pride that our country had and still has people willing to not only defend it, but to help other people in other countries defend their rights.

Pride turned over to sorrow, because I felt sorry for these service men and women for having to go through the ravages of war. To see and do things I have never had to do. To make hard, crucial and even life-threatening decisions regarding themselves or other people. To know that there is never any guarantee that they will ever see family and friends again once they have departed for service.

Sympathy and sadness hit me when I read one tombstone of a 21 year old man who died in combat and his 19 year old brother died the following month during World War II. Both tombstones read, "Beloved son of..." and "Died in Action on..". Here were parents that had lost two sons within a month's time. Having two sons myself I can only imagine the sadness and anguish these people went through and tears filled my eyes.

I slowed my pace and took my time placing the flags on the graves of these brave men and women. I said a small prayer at each one and asked God to bless them. The experience of placing our United States flag on these graves humbled me in a way I cannot explain. I felt guilty about putting a U.S. flag on their grave, because it was such a small thing compared to what these people had done.

Memorial Day is a day of remembering our service men and women who have died, whether in time of war or not. I think we should also remember those service people who are still alive and, if nothing else, say "Thank you."