THIS IS MY TOWN!!!!

Inker & Jimmy at an A.A. BBQ (I have both of their permission to show them this photo during an anonymous fellowshipping picnic.)
Kat & Spidy were chatting on the roadside in my town while they were having a perfect parade.

I took some shots of interesting happenings including a very patriotic but hot cocker spaniel taking a break from the long persession he had to walk...he was having a nice cool drink. I dont know this adoreable "pooch fanooch" ( I made up this name) but he sure was cute.

We had regal marchers honoring the civil war era, you can still see the smoke in the picture shortly after they sacred the heck out of me when they fired their very loud muskets.
Then we had some funny clowns, I even saw my fur angel "Pogo" who you met a few entries back when I introduced you to this brave boy after near death experience after losing one of his legs, hes obviosly still doing wonderful, smiling so pretty for his Auntie Kat while being spoiled by Uncle Ronnie. Isnt he just beautiful with his"Im so grateful to be alive smile?" (I meant Pogo)

We had The Shriners, The elegant East Hartford High School band, and WOW!!! the girls looked excellent and their performance was outstanding. We saw the Eats Hartford Democrats, the entire parade was amazing. I was very proud of my entire town.
Our town really has some challenges and difficulties with trying to control and help our youth who for whatever reason feel safer, & more accepted with several dangerous and lost street gang bangers...than at home. This breaks my heart. Im not sure how to be a part of the solution on this one.... East Hartford needs our prayers, we need funding for programs, education and family support systems for the single family homes without Fathers and sometimes without Mothers in the home and we have alot of grandmothers trying to do the best they can being left to raise these kids, with very little help. Our streets arent safe at night...our young residents are at risk...thats why I was so proud of the huge amounts of families who came out today to help celebrate Memorial Day. Everyone was on their best behavior.

On Saturday,Ronnie & I spent some time at our Town Cemetery to honor & thank the Veterans section who served and lost their lives in several wars. We were so sad to see a young man who was 20 and had died while in Viet Nam. Im ashamed to admit Im not sure I understand enough politically about our wars to make an informed opinion or statement, but I do have a son who went to Iraq and Afghanistan and came home safely, and I know we still have thousands of our soldiers still there who regardless of our opinions, need our prayers and much needed support now and when they come home...thats why Im so grateful to have a safe Country to celebrate all of our holidays, speak my mind on whatever issues I choose, the privilidge to vote, and participate in my cushy life of freedom.
Thats why I wanted to share with you how I embraced this very important holiday. Yes the barbeques and fellowshipping with family and friends with the good eats were all well and good, but I felt the most "part of" when Ronnie and I quietly spent an hour in the cemetery thanking everyone who was laid to rest...for us. Im so happy with our pictures.

I hope you all had a restful 3 day weekend as well, I hope you were able to spend some time reflecting on why we have this holiday on the calendar. With all of our daily problems, justified complaints about the hardships of daily life including issues about rising and disturbing gas prices...we really are a blessed Country.
Happy Memorial Day to you all.

How we celebrated Memorial day weekend...