Unofficial Summer

There are all kinds of signals of when summer arrives regardless of the official Solstice date (June 20, 2012 at 7:09pm).  The sun felt close enough over this Memorial Day weekend (94 degrees).  And enough though school is still in session for Jenna and Ellen, the holiday felt like the routine had begun.  Cookouts, Indian Hill Swim Club picnic and swimming, badminton court lined, games, and lazy day naps are all signals of summer. 

Dayna was here to visit after her graduation from Derby high school last week.  So even the excitement of company added to the feeling of summer activities.  So waiting another 24 days to declare it is summer will not work.  Memorial Day should be the real official start of summer (even though this was changed from May 30th to the last Monday in May in 1968). After all - if we can legislate changes in traditional holidays - why not get Congress to act on declaring the official Summer date?

Armstrong has it's traditional service with the Brass Band on Sunday before Memorial Day.  It was another great performance and a time to honor all those who have passed on.  The cemetery was decorated with American flags and the roll call of all the military servicemen ( with names from every war since the revolutionary war) will be announced tomorrow at the 10:30am service.

It is a duty to remember that we stand on the shoulders of all those who served before us.  And it is our duty to prepare our shoulders for others.