Memorial day is one of my favorite parts about living in Mazeppa. It is the quintessential day of a national holiday in rural Minnesota. I don't doubt that it is this way in many places throughout the country... I guess I just like it here so much because it is a sure tradition I have experienced for over 20 years.
Each Memorial Day, at least when I am home, begins with me playing Taps on my trumpet for the neighborhood. I stand on the deck and blast it out as loud as I can. Now, I understand this sounds rather ridiculous, but hey... the neighbors expect it every year! How can I say no? Then the family makes their way to the city/town, well, village actually, for the 3 minute parade, which consists of the American Legion members wearing uniforms on which the buttons have been taken out several times as the bellies within grow larger, the Color Guard-the group of people who have served in any capacity in the military, including combat, the high school band making their summer parade debut - horrendous, the girl scouts and boy scouts - all ten of them, and bringing up the rear... fire trucks. This year there were four; and together, they made up about a quarter of the parade length.
Each Memorial Day, at least when I am home, begins with me playing Taps on my trumpet for the neighborhood. I stand on the deck and blast it out as loud as I can. Now, I understand this sounds rather ridiculous, but hey... the neighbors expect it every year! How can I say no? Then the family makes their way to the city/town, well, village actually, for the 3 minute parade, which consists of the American Legion members wearing uniforms on which the buttons have been taken out several times as the bellies within grow larger, the Color Guard-the group of people who have served in any capacity in the military, including combat, the high school band making their summer parade debut - horrendous, the girl scouts and boy scouts - all ten of them, and bringing up the rear... fire trucks. This year there were four; and together, they made up about a quarter of the parade length.
After they all make their way through, which literally only lasts a few minutes, everyone heads up to the cemetery for the service. This part, I am sure, is probably quite typical of many places. There is a speech by a veteran, a trumpeter plays taps, there is a however-many gun salute, and we sing the Star Spangled Banner. This year they actually had a sound system for the person playing guitar for the Banner. That helped a lot... until it cut out about three lines in. Then it was back to normal. After the hoopla, the Goranson crew walks around the cemetery, stopping at each past family member's grave. My great, great, great grandpa and down is buried there. Good times. After this, everyone makes their way down the hill to the bridge where there is another rifle salute and we all throw flowers in the river to honor those who've died at sea. Finally, the ceremonies are over and it is time for lunch.
Mazeppa boasts a city-wide pot luck. Whoever wants to can bring a dish and eat at the American Legion. Sadly, the numbers for this are dwindling with every passing year. Meanwhile, about thirty people (mostly relatives of mine in some way or another) mingle outside the Legion, drinking beer and chatting about who-knows-what. After a couple hours of this, the Goransons pick a lucky family member to host us for the rest of the afternoon, where we fire up the grill and finish the afternoon by eating brats, drinking beer, and planning out the Goranson Pancake Breakfast we put on for the city on Fourth of July weekend.
And people wonder what is so good about rural life in towns like Mazeppa...
Mazeppa boasts a city-wide pot luck. Whoever wants to can bring a dish and eat at the American Legion. Sadly, the numbers for this are dwindling with every passing year. Meanwhile, about thirty people (mostly relatives of mine in some way or another) mingle outside the Legion, drinking beer and chatting about who-knows-what. After a couple hours of this, the Goransons pick a lucky family member to host us for the rest of the afternoon, where we fire up the grill and finish the afternoon by eating brats, drinking beer, and planning out the Goranson Pancake Breakfast we put on for the city on Fourth of July weekend.
And people wonder what is so good about rural life in towns like Mazeppa...
How patriotic I am...
That's my dad in the middle. This is the most dressed up I have seen him in about 15 years.
At the cemetery. My dad and uncle are standing next to each other in the middle.
sounds sublime!
ReplyDeleteI think something like that would be really wonderful to be a part of, but then I think I would feel like I was intruding on a really personal experience if I hadn't been doing it for 20 years.