This Memorial Day, Honor Your Loved Ones By Visiting a Cemetery

On a very hot, sunny Sunday afternoon I stopped by the cemetery to lay flowers on a grave. I was surprised by the number of people there.  It was not Memorial Day.  It was just a really hot Sunday.

I found a spot to park and looked around.  People of all ages were honoring their beloved dead.

However, I was truly struck by one scene. Near me a man was literally on the ground near a grave. You could tell that it was a relatively new burial spot. The grass showed signs of where the grave had been dug. But you did not have to look at the grass. You just had to look at the man. His face and body language said it all.

He was on his side, with his hand propping up his head. It looked like he was lounging there and having a conversation with his loved one.  He looked wistful and sad. His whole being said, “I miss you!” to whomever rested there. I walked by him quietly trying to not interrupt his visit.

I put down my flowers, said my prayers and went back to my car. I had to walk by the man again. He looked up. Sorrow was on his face.  I said, “I am sorry for your loss.” He nodded and just said, “Thank you.” He then went back to his revery. I wondered if he spoke aloud once I left.

As I drove out, I looked around some more. It’s not something I usually do not do. I think of cemeteries as private places, despite their very public nature.

But my view directed me to a man sitting in a lawn chair. He looked like he was settled in for a Sunday visit with his loved one. I noticed many others just spending time among the dead.

This holy place was amazing.  It was not morbid. It was beautiful.

My eyes began to fill with tears. I could just sense the love and affection there.  Certainly there was grief. But it was a comfort to see so many people spending a bit of their Sunday showing their love and basically acknowledging the resurrection.

Memorial Day was begun to honor those who died performing their military duties. The weekend has been transformed to a holiday that marks the beginning of summer. And it is a time when many honor their dead, not just the military.

So this weekend consider a few things:

• Amid barbecues, beach visits and family gatherings, take the time to visit a cemetery. It is your way of connecting and honoring with your heavenly family and friends.
• If you do not live near your family graves, it might not be that weird to go to a cemetery and look for a grave with a flag. Say a prayer and a thank you.
• Send a note to someone who is grieving. Just let them know you are thinking of them.
• Make a donation to a military organization. One local parish near me has been collecting snack and personal care items for soldiers overseas.
• Affirm your Easter belief and really celebrate Mass this weekend.

A visit to a cemetery can be beautiful.