I attended a wedding shower this weekend and on the drive to the venue took the time to visit a revolutionary war era cemetery that I’ve had my eye on for some time. The cemetery is one that I pass each time I drive back to my home town. I was feeling nostalgic on this trip as I thought about how fast time has gone by. I remembered back to the time when the bridegroom was merely a twinkle in his mother’s eye. She and I have had more than a few adventures over the years and have plenty more on the list, but appreciating that her son is now a grown man and seeing the cemetery reminded me that time is precious and every day is an opportunity for a new beginning.
The cemetery and church are in a valley that looks undisturbed by suburban sprawl. The white church has a beautiful spire and floor to ceiling windows while the cemetery contains more than a few listing and toppled tombstones surrounded by a dry-stacked stone wall that has been overtaken by scrub in some places and crumbled in others. Although many of the tombstones were illegible, the very nature of the scene was humbling and inspiring. More than 200 years ago families had messages of love inscribed on even the most basic tombstones and the veterans continue to be honored today for their long-ago service by small American flags marking their graves. Legacies of love, commitment, honor and lives well lived....