Explaining Memorial Day to the Grandson
The grandson stayed the night with us Friday. This morning we got up and I took him with me to Tractor Supply to get some fertilizer and weed killer. As we walked up to the door I recognized a fella I rode motorcycles with ten years ago. He was with the DAV selling Buddy Poppies. I gave them a donation and pinned the flowers to our shirts. Allan was distracted by the store but once we were back in the car we had the following conversation.
A: “Papa Boomer why are we having flowers”?
B: “Because Monday is Memorial Day. That is when we remember some good people who died.”
A: “But why?”
B: “Well a long time ago a bunch of bad people got together and went around messing up other people’s houses, stealing their food and breaking their toys. Some very good people told them to stop but they wouldn’t so they fought a war. Eventually the very good people won but a lot of them died in the fighting.”
A: “So we wear flowers?”
B: “Yes, where they died the flowers grew because they were heroes.”
A: “Heroes? Did Batman fight too?”
B: "Yes and so did Superman.
A: “They didn’t die?”
B: “No they lived and still do”
A: “So we wear the flowers to thank them too?”
B: “No that is Veterans Day. Memorial Day is to thank those that died.”
A: “Papa Boomer how do we thank the good people if they are dead?”
B: “We will leave that until you are little older. It is complicated.”
He sat quietly with that serious look he has when he is thinking hard. After a few minutes I heard this whispered from the back seat.
A: “God, please thank the good dead people for me.”
Kids do see things in the simplest terms. In a few years I will have a more serious talk with him about it. For now I think he gets it pretty good for a four year old.