From My Shasta Home

On this Memorial Day, we do what we always do – go out to our Northern California Veterans Cemetery to pay our respects.

I enjoy seeing people bring their children along. The high school band from my town played patriotic songs, including the crowd favorite, the Armed Forces Medley, honoring all six branches. My husband served 20 years in both the Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard, so he stands for both. We sat near the Veterans Home, where my husband used to work and where my son still does. It’s heartwarming to see all those elderly men and women, who also served, stand proudly. Some can hardly get up, but doggone it, they’re going to STAND. And they do!

My husband’s father is buried there, along with my mom and dad. This is Pop’s headstone, but I didn’t get a photo of my parents since they are in a cremation niche.

One moment that stood out to me was when the military and civic organizations were bringing up their wreaths, with the last one from the Gold Star Families. As they were leaving, one mom stopped and decided to speak. Apparently, she’d been told she couldn’t because she hadn’t served. She seemed a bit miffed and emotional, and just wanted to say her piece, so she did. She thanked the community for supporting their family when their son died a few years ago in Afghanistan. She especially wanted to thank the young people and the families with children, stressing how important it is to teach little ones about Memorial Day.

I’d seen her before, but this was the first time she spoke, and I couldn’t blame her. I thought, “Go for it, Mama,” because I would’ve done the same.

John 15:13:

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” 

The rest of the day is all about relaxation! We’re planning to fire up the grill and cook some pork chops for dinner.

My adult kids work in caregiving roles. They work in hospitals and care facilities, so holidays are workdays for them. It really is their calling.

My heart is still so moved by that amazing Gold Star Mom, so I’d like to end with a warm prayer for all the wonderful Gold Star Moms and their families out there.

Heavenly Father,
Today, we gather in solemn remembrance of the brave men and women who laid down their lives for our freedom. We honor their courage, their sacrifice, and the love they showed for their country.

We lift up the families who carry the weight of loss, the parents, spouses, children, and loved ones who miss them deeply. Wrap your loving arms around each of them. Replace sorrow with sweet memories, pain with Your perfect peace, and emptiness with Your presence. Remind them daily that their loved one’s sacrifice mattered and will never be forgotten.

Lord, bring comfort to every heart that aches, and grant strength to those who serve. Bless our living veterans with health, strength, and peace, healing both visible and invisible wounds.

May their legacy inspire us to live selflessly, to uphold the values they defended, and to never take for granted the freedoms they gave their lives for.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.