This picture arrived by text letting me know that the stone
to mark the grave of my dad had been placed at the cemetery in Albert
City. It has been ten months since he
died. We knew that the monument company
would place the grave marker after winter weather and before Memorial Day.
The memories of cemetery and returning Dad’s body to earth
came back. Hearing the words,
“In sure and certain hope of the resurrection
to eternal life through our Lord Jesus Christ, we commend to almighty God our
brother Melvin, and we commit his body to the ground, earth to earth, ashes to
ashes, dust to dust.”
Sitting in the front row in front
of the coffin with family and friends surrounding us. Sharing flowers from the blanket bouquet on
the coffin. Watching as they partially
lowered the coffin. Turning and walking
away and being greeted by family and friends.
Taking pictures….and finally driving away.
And then the memories of being a
child and a day or two before Memorial Day Mom and Dad would put us in the
car. In the trunk were our collection of
vases with a spike on the bottom that could be pushed into the ground and hold
fresh flowers but also assorted bouquets of artificial flowers and wreaths. Just before we left Mom would cut flowers
from our yard…I seem to remember some bridal wreath and irises. At Albert City Dad would name the graves of
Grandma and Grandpa Samuelson, Great Grandma and Grandpa Samuelson, a baby’s grave. We would then move to another location and
find Dad’s uncle and another set of great grandparents. In the later years when we were with Mom and
Dad at the cemetery Dad would then point to the vacant spots for him and Mom.
