The Memorial Day Observance
Every year we observe Memorial day with our own service, with friends of
our family invited. It is not required, and embraces several religious
backgrounds. Since the first few members we buried were Jewish, we read
kaddish, keeping the memory of our dead alive in our hearts, followed by
other forms from other traditions. We read poems we find appropriate, sing
Willie MacBride, and Flowers of the Forrest, ending with Amazing Grace.
While simple and short, it has a great emotional impact, cathartic
and healing, as we remember, share our losses and bring life to the memory of loved ones.