So it's PAL day! The happiest day for letterboxers because shiny new boxes show up for us to find... well during my day planting - I was brought back to reality while trying to plant my PAL day box.
When Teacup and I were in Vermont, we stopped into a cemetery and watched an older gentleman meander the rows of a cemetery, placing flags at the stones of veterans. We watched him - kept him in our vision as we were trying to pick up a series planted in that cemetery. But we both mentioned what an honor it was to see those pristine new flags waving valiantly at those that served our country in its defense.
We took a moment to chat with him - we even offered to help him finish the cemetery - to which he politely declined our offer. He obviously had a system - which we would have messed up - but more importantly - after talking to another man doing the same yesterday - I realized - we probably would have taken a piece of his way to pay his respects to each fallen comrade he visited.
We wanted to hug him, help him - but he moved along and so did we. But yesterday - I had a chance to chat with another Veteran who was also laying flags at stones. He had been doing it since 1949! He told me - that when he started - there were about 200 flags that he placed flags at in the cemetery we were in. This year he was placing more that 1000! He was holding one of the veteran flag holders in his hand and we were talking about those as well.
He told me that about five years ago close to 500 of them had been stolen from the cemetery - the person was taking them to be melted down for the metal in them. So now, when they had to replace them - they got a plastic composite one instead. Stealing a veterans marker out of a cemetery is a federal crime - yet it happens all the time. And it's sad - profoundly disturbing to think that a person thinks that melting down those markers for quick cash is remotely more important that what that marker stands for. That veteran did his or her service to our country, to defend our rights and its a silent symbol that shows just a minute amount of respect they deserve for their service.
So while it's PAL day... and folks are out planting and making happy listings, take the time to respect that which is around you. Whether its a cemetery or a trail - someone has done some sort of service to create a space where we can go out and plant a box - to enjoy our country and our hobby. I still want to find that veteran from yesterday - who again turned down my offer of assistance. He had his list - and he was going to diligently crossing those names off - replacing those markers that were missing, straightening those up that suffered over the winter's weather - and silently paying a respectful prayer at each site. I just want to once again - tell him thank you for what he was doing yesterday - and for the service he did four our country in the 1940's. And give him a big hug.
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In our town, the Boy and Cub Scouts replace the old flags with new at all the cemeteries during the week before Memorial Day. As a parent and Cub Scout leader, it is one of my favorite activities of the year even though my eyes tend to leak. We did not plant any letterboxes in any cemeteries for PAL Day this year (although we did in other places) but we did plant a series the following week. It was a lot of fun traversing the cemeteries we planted in and looking at all the graves with flags. It is also a good time to teach my younger boys who are homeschooled about the different wars. We found one grave belonging to a young man who was killed during WW II. He was only 26.
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