Sitting on my front porch in SW effing hillbilly PA...

[wnylib]

66. I'm from Erie originally.

Memorial Day was (still is I think) the opening day for the summer season at Presque Isle state park -- beaches, picnics, boating, etc. Very much a party atmosphere. There was a parade in town in the morning, and fireworks at night, but most of the day was party time at the beaches or at home in people's yards. (Lot of Pittsburgh folks drove north for the beaches.)

My family took the day seriously to honor all the deceased, not just veterans. I can remrmber as a child making the rounds of graves with my parents and siblings, planting flowers, trimming shrubs at graves, and generally making them look nice. Some had flags to honor their service. We would pause for a moment of silence and then move on to another grave in that cemetery or another one until all were taken care of. Grandparents and great'grandparents, great aunts and great uncles, cousins of the grandparents, etc. Both of my parents had large extended families so this could take several hours. My father took care of the permanently planted flowers and shrubs because of his gardening skills, but other relatives brought cut flowers and we sometimes ran into them at the graves.

I remember getting impatient and not wanting to go, but being told that it was a responsibility and an honor to pay respects to the deceased.

Attitudes are so different today, except for the part about treating it as a party day.