I look at the  picture of my Dad

In his Army Uniform

Standing so tall and straight

And proud

And I remember Memorial Days past.

They would load all of us kids

Into the family car and load

the flowers for the graves.

We would head to Gilmanton’s

Smith Meetinghouse Cemetary And pay respects to Mom’s family first.

Sometimes we would have to wait

For the parade to pass so

That we could get out

Of the cemetery.

That was usually followed by a trip

To her family’s farm to visit

Her Mom and the Aunts and Uncle.

Sometimes there would be

Numerous stops at little

Brooks so that Dad could

Drop a line and maybe catch

A fish for Grammie’s lunch.

We would grab a sandwich

From the picnic basket

Somewhere along the way,

And then it was off to

Another cemetery in

South Barnstead

To visit

Dad’s family graves.

If we were really lucky we would

Get delayed by the parade

In Center Barnstead.

Mom and Dad might even meet up

With some family and friends

And catch up on days

Gone by .

Dad might even tell some

War stories with his buddies

From his home town.

I wish I had listened

Better then but I was

A little girl and did not

Know what it was

Really all about

Back then.

We would stop at

My Grandfathers house

For a visit and run

Across the road to

Visit Dad’s Brother

And his family

Before heading

Home on the old

Back roads my father

Loved so much.

So many memories

Parade through my

Head today….

Susan Bergeron

May 27, 2011