A day of honoring and reflecting

Memorial Day conjures specific memories for Connie Fow.

Each year the Highlands Middle School teacher accompanied her family on what felt like a 15-hour drive to visit her grandparents near Colfax, where she’d get to play with newborn lambs and other farm animals.

But that was always preceded by a stop at the community’s cemetery, she told a crowd of a few hundred on Monday at Riverview Heights Cemetery.

Her parents visited the graves of relatives who served in the military, placing one of the roses as well as one of the small American flags the family picked up at the cemetery office. Fow and her siblings, more often than not, were scolded for being too loud or rambunctious, eager to get to the farm and the fun part of the day.

“What I didn’t understand until many years later, was that the men and women with flags on their graves were young men and women who were drafted or volunteered, strapped a canteen on one hip, a rifle on the other,” Fow said. “They have allowed me to play in parks today, choose a career I love doing and have a voice.”

She spoke at one of many services in the Tri-Cities celebrating Memorial Day and honoring those who served the nation and died. Speakers noted that many view Memorial Day only as the end of a three-day weekend and the unofficial start of the summer season but it’s important to remember it’s true meaning.

“We take time today to uplift the heavy heart of those for whom Memorial Day is more than a mere diversion but is instead a painful time of reflection and enduring bereavement,” said Art King, chaplain for Kennewick VFW Post 5785 in his opening prayer.

People of all ages gathered around the veterans memorial at Kennewick cemetery for ceremony, one of the first of the day in the Tri-Cities. Along with a placing of wreaths at the memorial and a gun salute followed by buglers playing Taps, three members of the Columbia River Young Marines placed a battlefield cross — an inverted rifle with bayonet topped with a helmet and draped with dog tags with boots at its base.

Fow, who was named the VFW Washington State Teacher of the Year for 2016, said in her remarks that she strives to impress on her students that Memorial Day and Veterans Day aren’t just two days off from school but days to say thank you. She brings veterans in to talk to her students for various projects and she regularly receives notes from the veterans after, saying they enjoyed the visit and to feel appreciated.

“When I read these notes to my students, they begin to understand and appreciate these two very special days,” Fow said.

King recalled how when he returned from serving in Southeast Asia during the U.S. involvement in Vietnam that he was more often met by dirty looks and words. And while it’s disappointing that some Americans don’t observe Memorial Day, he said he’s seen a sea change in how most view the contributions of veterans.

“It’s a whole different attitude in America,” King said. “It makes me so proud how we treat our young veterans.”

And while some tears were shed and King acknowledged it was an emotional day, he added it was a beautiful day.

While many left soon after the ceremony, some wandered through the cemetery, visiting the graves of family members who served. Children holding fresh cut flowers placed them in niches or at the base of grave markers and asked questions about who everyone was.

“It’s a good day,” said Bruce Kerr, who had his three young grandsons in tow when they visited Kerr’s grandfather’s grave. “It’s time we reflect on the past.”

This story was originally published May 30, 2016 at 10:40 AM with the headline "A day of honoring and reflecting."