Reflections from the Front Line

I bet you didn't think I could wrap journal keeping and Memorial Day together? Well, I did. With a huge help from my brother Kyle, and a long deceased great uncle, Edward Reasoner.

Quick History Lesson

Memorial Day as we know it didn't come into being until 1971, when congress ratified it as a national holiday. Setting the last Monday of May, as the official holiday. Memorial Day, began as a post-Civil War Remembrance Day, then called Decoration Day. Over the centuries the origin and dates for the holiday have varied. As well as the intent. Today, it is set aside to honor everyone who has served in the arms services.

Family Traditions

Zero. Though I had family members who served, none of them had served in combat. We didn't grow up with war stories per se. There were no graves to visit. No parades to attend. Nothing.

If anything, Memorial Day, was a day for school project catch up and prepping for finals. Some years we would have a backyard bar-b-que. Mostly, it was a great three-day weekend. Then two decades ago, my brother ran across our great uncle's journal from his service as a dispatch runner in World War 1.

In all our years of family story sharing, no one ever mentioned this uncle, Edward Reasoner, or his valorous service. The only way we found out about it, was from a journal he typed.

After my brother discovered it, he sent it my then twelve-year-old son. My young history buff was in awe of his unknown great, great uncle. Eager to touch history a bit closer, my son and I drove up to Fort Lewis McCord to tour it.

Camp Lewis, as it was known then, had been the site of Edward Reasoner's training camp. On June 24, 1918, he and the rest of the 91st Division shipped out. Heading east to eventually cross the Atlantic.

Looking at Fort Lewis McCord now, it was hard to imagine what it looked like two centuries before. Yet, there was something eerily sacred about walking in a place where a family member was preparing for war. Life becomes a little more sobering.

What Became of Edward Reasoner?

Well, among the hand typed pages, one page summed up Edward's commendable experience. I will leave it for you to read and enjoy.

My wish for you, is to keep recording your stories. Someone will want them. Sincerely. And, have a beautiful Memorial Day.