Memorial Day

Very honored to place flags at the Washington Soldiers Home Cemetery in Orting this morning along with the local Knights of Columbus and Boy Scouts. This isn't a VA cemetery; it is maintained by the State of Washington as part of the soldiers home, which was established in 1889.  Many of the early graves are Civil War veterans, and we found two graves of  veterans of the U.S. Mexican War (1846-1847).  Other graves included veterans from the Spanish American War (1898),World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War.  Notably, five Congressional Medal of Honor recipients are buried in the Orting Cemetery.  The Knights of Columbus have been placing flags at the grave sites for over 40 years.

May 30

Attempting a Memorial Day photo, I went early to the Sacramento Valley National Cemetery.  This isn't a usual Memorial Day activity for me, so I have to say I was amazed by the number of cars filing in for the morning service!  And I don't know where the wind was coming from but it was harsh, which is why that flag looks like it's ready for a lunar landing...it actually was that windy!  As for the photo I have to say I'm a little disappointed in it because it seems so cliche.  I'm not sure what I was looking to photograph, but I don't really feel like I captured it here.  Too bright, too windy.  Maybe too empty given all the people there today.  I'm glad I went out there though.