As this month has come and gone so quickly, I find Memorial Day is almost already arrived again. We've been quite busy with end of school activities, the school carnival, music informances, end of Sunday School, starting summer activities, etc. As I drive out to Challenger several days a week lately, though, I find myself glancing off to the side as I pass Greenwood Cemetery here in town and just noticed today the many wooden crosses placed in honor of local fallen veterans for Memorial Day ceremonies next week. It got me to thinking of all the many people I've known over the years that have left this earth, many before their time, and others who lived long and rich lives and for whom it would never have been a comfortable time to say goodbye. I thought of how people visit their friends' and loved ones' gravesites to remember them on this holiday, but obviously I can't do that for everyone, so I thought I would acknowledge them here in at least some small way.
There are so many people who have touched my life in one way or another, large or small, long or short, but these are the people I miss, that I wish I could have met in person while they were here, or could have stayed here a bit longer in the journey we call "life" so I could have gotten to know them (not necessarily in order of importance): Grandma Judy and Grandpa Paul, Great Grandpa Oscar and Grandma Mary, Great Grandpa Ole and Grandma Odel, Grandpa Ed, Great Uncle Ed, Helen and Doug, Marjorie, Aunt Sue, Ray Mosbeck, Adrienne Sanai, Sarah Villien (CAP), Sandy Heidinger, Ms. Czerkownak, Mrs. Poole, Mr. Fugleberg, Mr. Solsten, Mrs. Desrochier, Mr. McLeod, Mr. Hess, Rayton "Bubs" Dargon, David Cota, Stuart Thompson, Leland Mott, Sr., Kristi Dyrdal, Warren Peterson, Mary from Ida Culver, Iris Nicola, Annie Van Winkle, Lisa from Stevens, Mr. Krause, Dr. Davidson, Jim and Perry (30 years ago this December), and Axel and Louise Stark. Thank you to all the above who have played a role in shaping who I have been, am, and will be in the future. You are all dearly missed, particularly those who died without the opportunity to live your lives to the fullest.
"Requiem eternam dona eis, Domine. Et lux perpetua luceat eis." (Grant unto them eternal rest, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.)
Thank you also to the many veterans who have died for our freedom in previous wars and and the men and women who continue to give the ultimate gift in sacrifice to our country in Iraq and Afghanistan and around the world.
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