My memories of May during my school days are of practicing march music with various bands for various parades at the end of the month. Memorial Day was always very exciting, colorful, noisy, energetic, and usually very hot. The first parades I was in were with the Boy Scouts. We really didn’t march, but kind of walked to whatever music was nearest. A little like a herd of cats. But with junior high school and then high school, I was always playing trombone in a marching band. And, if you haven’t done this, it does take some practice – playing an instrument and marching at the same time. Next were a few stints marching with a drum & bugle corps – playing a one valve bugle. The band music was always energetic and usually military marches, mostly by Sousa. Rousing & patriotic. I remember those same marches, before my own marching days, when I was very young and just watching the parade go by. I was always most impressed by the big bass drum in any band. As it went by, my whole body would vibrate. This became lodged in my memory and surfaced whenever I was in or near a marching band. (thump, thump, thump, thump)…
The parades, in those days, always ended at the main cemetery in town with a patriotic program of songs and speeches, and ending with a lone trumpeter playing taps. Those veterans who had served in the military and those who had died for our country were honored and respected.
When the program was over, it was time to visit the family graves and place flowers on them (the one time I didn’t have to be concerned with carrying flowers). Then it was time to get changed and prepare for a picnic, either at home or at a park somewhere. This was always very festive. The food was basic & tasty – burgers & dogs & potato salad & baked beans & all of the sides. And there were games such as badminton & horseshoes, and, of course various things involving water. Sprinklers, hoses and water pistols were very popular. It was always very hot.
After sundown, we would lay on the cool grass and look at the stars under a clear sky. This, with the night sounds of crickets and other insects was relaxing until the mosquitos started to get hungry. That usually signaled bedtime. An end to an enjoyable but exhausting day of patriotism, fun, and music. Not too bad a memory. (and then the sounds of the sunburn sufferers started – rarely myself)…