Graduation & Memorial Day
It’s graduation weekend. It’s Memorial Day weekend—the unofficial start to summer! What are you going to do?
With Covid declining, and temperatures heating up, lots of people are ready to take advantage of the holiday Monday and enjoy a weekend, mostly outdoors in the heat, most likely. No doubt the lake will be a happening place.
A traditional time for cook-outs and get-togethers, many people will gather with family and friends to celebrate something. But, we dare not miss the real reason for the holiday—Memorial Day honors those who died while serving our country. A high price to pay, for sure.
My great-niece graduates this weekend in Conyers, and we will be going there Saturday to help her celebrate. We have more graduation parties in future weeks. Jimmy’s great-niece graduates soon in Maryland, but we won’t make that celebration.
It’s such a wonderful time for these young people. The end of something great, for many, and not so great for others, and the beginning of adulthood for each of them. Oh, the places they will go.
I don’t remember a lot about my high school graduation…it was a long time ago. And, frankly, I’ve been to so many graduations, I don’t remember much about a lot of them.
The speeches are always good, especially those by the graduating seniors. The val and sal address their class for the last time, and it is always great to hear them. However, I don’t retain much from their speeches, and I doubt many do. Of course, if one line stays with you, that’s probably real success.
It’s a real honor to be chosen to be valedictorian or salutatorian, recognizing the top two students in the senior class. What an achievement.
And, this weekend, all get to celebrate. Val and sal are great, but some students just aren’t cut out to be top of the class. But, they made it through, and can count this accomplishment on their way to many more. Let’s not discount those. High school graduation is for each of students…from top to bottom.
And, for those who don’t go to college, it may be the last time they get recognized for their achievements. The real world does not always give accolades for achievements, even though we, hopefully, achieve all our lives.
And those who don’t graduate at the top of your class, don’t worry…you graduated! That’s what counts. Let’s face it, there’s lots more “average” students than there are superlatives.
I’m not aware of any special activities planned locally for Memorial Day, although I’d bet the American Legion will put flags on graves of veterans. And, the Legionnaires are planning a boot drive for the weekend, to raise money for their veteran’s memorial wall. Support these veterans when you see them.
Those of us who never served in the military owe a special thanks to those who did. I remember when I was younger, I had a fleeting thought about joining the military, but that was all. Sometimes I wish I had. I’m sure my life would have turned out much different.
My grandson who graduated this time last year will be home before too long after finishing basic training and then a tech school for the U.S. Air Force. I’m so proud of him, and looking so forward to seeing him. I bet his military education let him know the importance of Memorial Day.
Speaking of the holiday, I will be at work Monday, for a while. We’ll be open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It’s not a lack of respect for the veterans. It’s the fact that I run a weekly newspaper, and it has to be printed each Wednesday, regardless of a Monday holiday or other special occasion.
There’s no need to work the whole day, though, as not many others are working so there is a limit to how much I can get done on the holiday. But I like to get everything that I can out of the way so that I can be ready for more news and hopefully advertisements and such on Tuesday.
We encouraged everyone to submit early because of the holiday, but it rarely works. Hence, I work a short day Monday.