By AMY SHANKLAND
Sandwiched
I can’t help but be excited about the upcoming holiday weekend. Memorial Day has always been special to me. It’s become more important and emotional as I’ve gotten older and grown to truly understand what the holiday means.
I remember the traditions we had growing up to celebrate Memorial Day in Mishawaka. Most everyone in the city – and I mean EVERYONE – watched some or all of the Memorial Day parade. My siblings, niece, nephew, friends, and I marched in it every year when we were in the Mishawaka High School band. My great-nephew will march in it one last time Monday.
It was so much fun to march through downtown past the old Uniroyal factory. You could always count on family members or friends hollering “Hi!” and waving as you walked by.
Some of us got to participate in a smaller ceremony before the parade at Battell Park near my house. This was always an honor, but the morning was typically hot and one of us usually locked our legs and practically fainted. That person was me my senior year! Thankfully I did not pass out.
After the parade, Mom and Dad always had family over to the house for a cookout featuring foot-long hot dogs. I absolutely adored them! For some reason they tasted better than regular hot dogs. When Mom mentioned she wasn’t going to serve them one year, I practically had a conniption. Thankfully she came to her senses.
As I’ve gotten older and had my own family, my husband John and I wanted to make certain our boys understood what the holiday means. For years, we would ride our bikes down to the Memorial Day ceremony on the Noblesville courthouse square along with our boys. We made certain to brace Jonathon and Jacob for the 21-gun salute at the end!
This weekend, however, we’re moving Jonathon out into an apartment he’ll share with his fiancé in Indianapolis. Our Memorial Day will probably include more rest than anything. However, we’ll definitely take some time to remember those who died while serving our country.
As I think about how our family is growing and changing, I wonder what new traditions we’ll create for this and other holidays. John and I are looking forward to being grandparents (no rush, mind you) down the road.
Perhaps we’ll be the ones hosting our children and grandchildren for a cookout someday. I’ll be sure to serve the incredible foot long hotdogs.
Have a wonderful Memorial Day, everyone!