Remembering Decoration Day - May 31

Memorial Day became an official Federal holiday in 1971. As a child Memorial Day was called Decoration Day and was celebrated on May 31 no matter what day of the week. It was holiday to remember not only those who died in the military, but also those who died in your family. It was a family holiday. My grandmother closed her business ( a rare occasion). My dad had the day off. My family would squeeze into my grandmother's 1952 Plymouth four-door sedan and head up to the North side of Chicago. It seemed like a long journey in the days before expressways. We would meet my aunt and her clan at the family burial plot. As we walked up the incline to the site, we were warned not to step on any one's grave. We needed to be respectful. In those days, a grave was very distinct. The black mounds were graves. The grassy area was a free zone for foot traffic. This venture in the Spring was a time to commune with my ancestors. We always started the work with a prayer. There w