In my youth, we knew this day as "Decoration Day".
My Grandmother Stella and Mom would make sandwiches, fried chicken and various sides with lemonade to drink.
My Granddad Amos, Pop and I would load the lawn mower and other small hand tools into our car, a 1949 green Plymouth which Pop had named The Green Hornet, and head out for a day of cleaning various family plots in local cemeteries. Granddad Amos also had some foul smelling liquid in a pail that he would use with a wire brush to clean the headstones.
First, we would head out for a couple of country cemeteries in Massac County, whose names now escape me. The family names I do remember and they were Keeling and Taylor, my Grandmother Stella's people.
Next we would again load up The Green Hornet and head out for a rural cemetery in Johnson County named the Rentfro Cemetery, my Granddad Amos' people.
After we finished with those resting places, Granddad, Pop and I would find a nice shade tree and take some time to enjoy our lunch that Granny and Mom had prepared for us.
This was especially enjoyable for me because I got to listen to my Granddad and Pop tell stories of yesteryear, their youth experiences and enjoy this fellowship with men.
After lunch, we again loaded up The Green Hornet and headed out for another rural Johnson County Cemetery, Casey Springs, where more of my Grandmother's people are resting. Their names are Keeling and Fairless.
Our last stop of the day would be in Vienna at the Hess Cemetery where more of my Granddad Amos' people are resting. I do not recall their names.
This activity on Decoration Day for the three of us continued for several years. Then it was just me and my Pop. Then I graduated from high school, moved away and that was the end of that chapter.
As I look back now, all these years later, what I wouldn't give to have just five more minutes of cleaning family plots in Johnson County with those two men.
