Memorial Day Weekend...

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation's service.

Traditional observance of Memorial day has diminished over the years. Some people use the day for honoring any and all dead, and not just those fallen in service to our country.

Many feel that when Congress made the day into a three-day weekend in 1971, it made it easier for people to be further distracted from the spirit and meaning of the day. Memorial Day became a long weekend increasingly devoted to family get-togethers, shopping, fireworks, and trips to the beach or the mountains.

North Country New Englanders can get unexpected cold spells that will injure some crops. For all but cold weather crops, it is traditional to plant seeds and transplant seedlings between May 25th and May 30th.

We found a wonderful farm stand and bought some huge tomato plants. They also had raw Gurnsey milk for sale.

Memorial Day weekend also coincides with the three day Lilac Festival in Lisbon, NH.

Festivities included a pancake breakfast, art show, amusement rides, food and craft vendors, popular local groups providing music, a Pie Baking Contest, parades, and fireworks.

A new event this year was the “Lisbon Lilac Idol” contest on Sunday afternoon just before the Fire Apparatus/EMS parade.

...and I was lucky to spend some time with old friends and new over the weekend including a picnic with traditional bonfire over in Twin Mountain.

So we do tend to pack alot of activity into the holiday weekend. This year I am mindful that a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3 p.m. local time.

The 'National Moment of Rememberance' resolution was passed in Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans "To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence.

The Moment of Remembrance is a step in the right direction to returning the meaning back to the day and for the nation to remember, reflect, and honor those who have given their all in service to their country.