Monday, June 4, 2012

Memorial Day 2012

For the last many years, we have always gone to the Memorial Day Ceremony at Fresno Memorial Gardens in Fresno, CA.  We love the Avenue of Flags that they have there, we "visit" Gpa Bond, and we attend the ceremony.

Amanda and Rebecca at Richard Bond's grave at Fresno Memorial Gardens - Memorial Day 2005
Katrina at Richard Bond's grave at Fresno Memorial Gardens - Memorial Day 2006

Katrina and Kevin with one of the many American flags in the Avenue of Flags at Fresno Memorial Gardens - Memorial Day 2006  (I love this photo!)

Amanda, Katrina and Rebecca at Richard Bond's grave at Fresno Memorial Gardens - Memorial Day 2007
Amanda, Rebecca and Katrina at Richard Bond's grave at Fresno Memorial Gardens - Memorial Day 2009
Katrina, Amanda, Rebecca and Lora at Richard Bond's grave at Fresno Memorial Gardens - Memorial Day 2010
Katrina places the flag at Richard Bond's grave - Memorial Day 2010
Rebecca, Amanda and Katrina at Richard Bond's grave at Fresno Memorial Gardens - Memorial Day 2011
The bagpipe corps that played at the Fresno Memorial Gardens Memorial Day Ceremony 2011
Over 1600 flags are displayed at the Fresno Memorial Gardens - 2011
This year we did something a little different.  When my Gpa, Richard Marshall, was buried in October of last year in the San Joaquin National Cemetery, my Aunt, Lindi, donated his flag to their Avenue of Flags.  This year we drove to Santa Nella, CA to the cemetery for Memorial Day.


We went to see my grandfather's grave first.  The grass has been put in since the last time I was there and it looks nice.

Richard Marshall's grave at the San Joaquin National Cemetery - 2012

Rebecca, Katrina, Lora and Amanda at Richard Marshall's grave at San Joaquin National Cemetery - Memorial Day 2012

The Avenue of Flags at the San Joaquin National Cemetery.  Somewhere in there is the flag that covered my grandfather's casket. - Memorial Day 2012

The Avenue of Flags at the San Joaquin National Cemetery - Memorial Day 2012

The San Joaquin National Cemetery Avenue of Flags with the pavilion in the right background that is near my grandfather's grave - Memorial Day 2012
 I was very glad that we could drive to Santa Nella and visit my grandfather's grave on Memorial Day.  There were so many people there honoring those they love!  It was wonderful!


Today I had the unique experience of being able to go out to Fresno Memorial Gardens and help other volunteers to fold and sort all the flags.  There were six volunteers who were folding the flags (several of whom were Blue Star Moms) and I was sorting the rolled-up flags into all the containers that were for each of the different areas in the cemetery.  It was very enjoyable, and I am glad that I was able to find that way to serve.

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