Seventy years ago the small town I lived in always had a Memorial Day Parade (Decoration Day we called it) and the day had some meaning other than a day off from work.

Everyone mowed and cleaned up their own cemetary plots, added flags, flowers, peonies or iris or whatever they had, to decorate the family graves.

For the parade, every kid that had a bike, doll carriage, or whatever was decorated in red, white and blue crepe paper, even some of the pet dogs were dressed up. And all marched in the parade. There were bands, floats, marching units, scouts, antique cars, fire trucks, WCTU and all.

Store fronts and buildings were decorated with buntings and banners and many flags, US flags. Anyone remember what a flag looks like?

Always a company of the Pennsylvania National Guards in World War I uniforms, the piepan helmets, leggings and knapsacks.

And a number of Spanish American War veterans, some marching and some in touring cars (provided by the local car dealers).

And also a few Civil War veterans, also riding, with their uniform hats, white hair and white beards and canes.