Memorial Day – May 27, 2019
In my memory, Grandma Fannie was the matriarch in charge of Memorial Day. Our parents joined Grandma Fannie, Grampa Ed and many from the Pickett, Scott, Holeman, the Jones families as well as a several others at Sunrise Cemetery. They would arrive by early afternoon to join the spirits and the graves of ancestors. The first task, after settling all picnic and other supplies under a shade tree, was to begin the process of greeting the ancestors, cleaning and sometimes repositioning grave stones and sharing flowers from personal gardens. As they cleaned, the elders would exchange stories with the living and the deceased. Our mother, at that time, was not able to visit the eternal restring place of her ancestors in the Chicago area. In fact, to this date, I have no idea where her ancestors, including her parents, are buried. Other than my Grandma Drake, mothers father, who was buried in farm country in Southern Illinois, neither my parents nor any of us children ever attended a funeral of any of the material ancestors.
At any rate, back to Memorial Day at Sunrise Cemetery. After cleaning of the graves, the restoration of grave markers and stones, formal invitations were issued to the spirits of ancestors to join us as we gathered under the shade tree to break bread, pray and bring the ancestral spirits up to date on family gossip. Some channeled various ancestors who shared the family history with the children. All this took place while reposing on handmade quilts.
Two of my sisters continue to clean graves, straightened gravestones, leave flowers and share family gossip with our ancestors including our parents, paternal grandparents and others.
I know some people continue to take grave blankets or other offerings to ancestors, but it seems the extended visits over picnics on handmade quilts are, at least for most people I know, a thing of the past. There was a formal visit to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia today by the Vice President and in many communities there will be a ceremony to honor deceased veterans, especially those killed during combat. Many may remember to thank a veteran they know, but on the whole, this is a day on which the living will gather. Perhaps some will call forth the spirits of ancestors.
Some may pause to consider what humans have learned from having practiced focusing on socially constructed differences. Some may pause to consider how we can learn to focus on our commonalities and sharing resources. Some may recommit to responding to hate with love. Some may decide to lead in the refusal to increase military spending or to refuse to make a profit by manufacturing and selling weapons to other nations and groups. Some may take the time to listen to the how difficult it is for veterans to live with the pain of the death of brothers and sisters and in killing those who are more similar than different. Some may choose to comfort a veterans by listening to his or her story or some may express public express outrage when a politician minimized the sacrifice of those who were and are prisoners of war. Some may provide homes or other necessities to homeless veterans.
Some may seek the advice of our ancestors about the legacy of which they are most proud. Some may listen, learn and assume the reigns of leadership.
Written May 27, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
In my memory, Grandma Fannie was the matriarch in charge of Memorial Day. Our parents joined Grandma Fannie, Grampa Ed and many from the Pickett, Scott, Holeman, the Jones families as well as a several others at Sunrise Cemetery. They would arrive by early afternoon to join the spirits and the graves of ancestors. The first task, after settling all picnic and other supplies under a shade tree, was to begin the process of greeting the ancestors, cleaning and sometimes repositioning grave stones and sharing flowers from personal gardens. As they cleaned, the elders would exchange stories with the living and the deceased. Our mother, at that time, was not able to visit the eternal restring place of her ancestors in the Chicago area. In fact, to this date, I have no idea where her ancestors, including her parents, are buried. Other than my Grandma Drake, mothers father, who was buried in farm country in Southern Illinois, neither my parents nor any of us children ever attended a funeral of any of the material ancestors.
At any rate, back to Memorial Day at Sunrise Cemetery. After cleaning of the graves, the restoration of grave markers and stones, formal invitations were issued to the spirits of ancestors to join us as we gathered under the shade tree to break bread, pray and bring the ancestral spirits up to date on family gossip. Some channeled various ancestors who shared the family history with the children. All this took place while reposing on handmade quilts.
Two of my sisters continue to clean graves, straightened gravestones, leave flowers and share family gossip with our ancestors including our parents, paternal grandparents and others.
I know some people continue to take grave blankets or other offerings to ancestors, but it seems the extended visits over picnics on handmade quilts are, at least for most people I know, a thing of the past. There was a formal visit to Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia today by the Vice President and in many communities there will be a ceremony to honor deceased veterans, especially those killed during combat. Many may remember to thank a veteran they know, but on the whole, this is a day on which the living will gather. Perhaps some will call forth the spirits of ancestors.
Some may pause to consider what humans have learned from having practiced focusing on socially constructed differences. Some may pause to consider how we can learn to focus on our commonalities and sharing resources. Some may recommit to responding to hate with love. Some may decide to lead in the refusal to increase military spending or to refuse to make a profit by manufacturing and selling weapons to other nations and groups. Some may take the time to listen to the how difficult it is for veterans to live with the pain of the death of brothers and sisters and in killing those who are more similar than different. Some may choose to comfort a veterans by listening to his or her story or some may express public express outrage when a politician minimized the sacrifice of those who were and are prisoners of war. Some may provide homes or other necessities to homeless veterans.
Some may seek the advice of our ancestors about the legacy of which they are most proud. Some may listen, learn and assume the reigns of leadership.
Written May 27, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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