Guest guest Posted May 29, 2006 Report Share Posted May 29, 2006 's Daily MessageMondayMay 29, 2006 MEMORIAL DAY MEMORIES Every year, when I was growing up, the last Monday in May was one of my favorite days of the year. That was the day we went to City Park in my hometown of New Orleans for my school`s Memorial Day picnic. The park was just so beautiful that time of year. There were so many trees and flowers of every variety. There was a huge carousel with painted horses and hundreds of little white lights everywhere. And around the carousel area, there were lots of green picnic tables, just ready for the big spreads of food to come. Speaking of food, my parents cooked all day Sunday and Monday morning for this special event. The menu was the same every year. There was fried chicken, potato salad, crab salad, deviled eggs, cut up vegetables with homemade onion dip, boiled crawfish and shrimp, French bread, iced tea and, of course, pecan pie. On Monday at about 11AM, we`d arrive at City Park and find a table that was shaded by one of the big oak trees. My mother, Shirley, would set the table just like we were at home in our dining room. I`m talking table cloths, napkins and a big arrangement of flowers for the center of the table. Within an hour, every table was filled with students, their families and faculty from our school. While all the other kids ran around playing ball and stuff, I`d get on the carousel and always on my same, favorite horse too. I just loved going round and round while listening to the happy organ music. At 12:30, my mother would come and get me as it was time to eat. And before any of the food on the table was touched, my dad, Leonard, would say grace. On this day, he would pray in honor of all the men and women who lost their lives fighting to protect our freedoms and our country. You see, my father had been in the Army and served during World War II. So he has witnessed the horrors of war with his own eyes. Oh how I miss those Memorial Day picnics with my parents and my brother, Lenny. In fact, I wish I was at City Park today, riding the carousel and biting into a deviled egg. I don`t know where you will be today but I do hope you will take a moment to remember just what today is all about. Love, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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