Gone but not forgotten

Memorial weekend is here and while I remember my loved ones that have passed on EVERY DAY, this day is always special for the ones that served their country. Monday morning I will pick up my sisters and we will go to a Memorial day mass at Our Lady of Las Vegas (my parish). After 9am mass I will pick up my uncle Al (mom's brother) and the four of us will go to breakfast. Vicky's friend Rocko will likely be at mass so he usually joins us for breakfast. After breakfast I will drive the four of us to Boulder City, which is about 25 miles East of Las Vegas. Mom and Dad are buried at the Veteran's Memorial Cemetery. We go to the cemetery quite often, but Memorial Day they have special ceremonies that are attended by both State Senators, local officials and other notables. I have attended the last two years. Dad served two tours in the Army Core of Engineers from 1938 to 1946.


Dad got out in 1946, the same year he married mom and then began an insurance career that saw him become Western Regional Director for Prudential Insurance. He worked there until he took early retirement in the 1970's. Dad passed on Jan 2, 2001 at age 83.

Mom was a homemaker, took care of her kids and family, though she did start out as a teacher. I thank God every day for the great parents he gave me. I only wish every kid could have had the parents I did. Mom passed away on May 1, 2005 after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's is a terrible way to go and I only hope they will find a cure or better treatments for it in the near future. You can help cure Parkinson's by making donations to the American Parkinson Disease Association.
I just got done writing an article about my mom for her "Class of '42" newsletter. There aren't many graduates left in her high school grad class. But the publisher wanted me to write something on mom that he will put in the next newsletter. I will post of copy when it comes out.

Life goes fast, enjoy it and make sure you tell those special to you how much you love them EVERY DAY!!!!