Now, every day is Memorial Day

Memorial Day has always had great significance to our family. We have a very rich heritage, and taking the time to 'honor' it has always been a priority. I always get choked up when I see family's gathered around a loved ones grave, placing flowers, cleaning the marker, and reminiscing. It's stunning to see how much love goes on and people are remembered for the significance they play in the lives of those left here.
We've done our best to visit graves from many generations back in our family -- which has led us to many quiet graveyards in the west and even in England. Our 'record' is finding the grave of a 15th great-grandfather in a Church in England, and standing on the spot in a neighboring town where his great-grandson was burned at the stake for 'heresy' ... being "the last person in England so to die." We've had to trek through some pretty rural places, or just taken a quick few steps off of major freeways, but we've visited dozens of places to pay honor to those who have blessed our lives with great beauty through their sacrifices in our behalf.
We've been making the trek up the SL Cemetery hill for 20 years of Memorial Days, since the passing of my father in 1989. Up until last October when I trekked up the hill to place flowers there for my mother's birthday, I hadn't ever considered that it would ever mean something different than the love I have for my own parents. But, on that windy evening in October, I had the sense that the spot would mean something much different to me now -- as it will continue to be for us and our children. I'm very grateful that Lauren's 'final resting spot' is beside my parents, but a little stunned at joining the ranks of parents who have to bury their children instead of vice versa. Standing on that same spot and having buried a child and both of my parents is simply sobering. Now, 'honoring' on Memorial Day means a stretch of the heart in both directions ... not just to those who are generations of our parents ... but also to our own precious child.
All days are now Memorial Days for us. In Lauren's honor, every day is a reminder of our blessings and what is ours not only in this life, but in the eternities. Every day is lived in memory and the honor it is to be her family. Even the haunting loneliness we feel is a tribute to her and the place she has in our hearts. And, while we miss her terribly, we have to rejoice that she is safe and secure and happy in cherished relationships with those she loves and honored in her few Memorial Days and all of her regular days on earth.

Lauren's grave can be found in the SL Cemetery near the wall alongside 11th Avenue. The Mausoleum is a good 'landmark' as the marker can be found approximately 20 yards from Center street, near the only pine tree left in the area. She is, of course, beside one of her best friends -- creating love and laughter in heaven -- not 'resting' beside one another on a hill, but their markers are there next to each other.