Blog # 3

While I tried to pay attention to the Memorial Day speaker each year, in the back of my mind I was thinking about, and really looking forward to, the pending Memorial Day rifle salute by the veteran’s honor guard. To 12 years old Brad Gates, the rifle salute was very motivating, and with the exception of taps, the rifle salute was the highlight of the Memorial Day service. Traditionally, the honor guard consisted of the flag detail, and seven veterans carrying .30 caliber rifles. After the guest speaker completed his address, and at the direction of the honor guard commander, each rifleman would fire his rifle three times as commanded, thereby providing the traditional 21 guns salute. After each of the three volleys by the seven riflemen, the rifles would eject an empty brass cartridge. These brass cartridges were considered as trophies and highly sought after by my friends and I. We all knew we were to wait until after the third volley was complete before attempting to collect the spent brass cartridges, but that seldom was the case. I remember scrambling for the brass rifle cartridges several years as a boy, but cannot remember what happened to them from one year to the next.

At the Gates house, Memorial Day could also be considered the unofficial start of picnic season. And while I don’t think many people consider picnics as part of an officially acknowledged season, I very well remember we always had a picnic for lunch after returning home from the cemetery and the Memorial Day service. The picnic was a big deal because my Pap Gates and Aunt Helen always joined us for the picnic. Next to my parents, Pap and Aunt Helen were the two most important adults in my life.



One year after the Memorial Day picnic, and I have to admit that I don’t remember what year it was, but I distinctly remember that my dad said he wanted to talk to me. The tone of dad’s voice was a little somber, but not angry like the times I misbehaved and was in trouble. Even at my young age, I sensed that my talk with dad was going to be significant, and the look his face confirmed it.  Strangely enough, I cannot remember where our conversation took place, but the information my dad shared with me that day would be a major influence on my life.