5/20/2009 - Memorial Day Preparations...

The day after we arrived to Wisconsin, it was time to get the graves of the Fallen Servicemembers of Dickeyville ready for the Memorial Day commemoration service. This is a very important, if not THE most important event for the Lau household. The Lau family has a long-standing tradition of service in the military and feels it is the greatest honor to remember those who served their country that have gone on from here. This year was super special as Brennan was inducted into doing his part...which he did with no less precision than you'd expect from a Lau boy. [Personally, I know for a fact that the precision comes mostly from their Grandma who is a Melssen by birth, but we'll let them think it's a Lau thing. ;)] Bren was very careful to put the flags in place properly. There were 2 slots for the flag to fit through and he wouldn't leave to do the next one till it was just right. Bren doesn't need to be shown more than once how to do something typically as he is very careful and precise about doing everything exactly as it should be done. Kind of like his Dad that way. So cute.

Getting a flag from Daddy.

He's just handed an old Flag to Daddy and has gotten the new one to replace it into the Marker.

He didn't like how it was placed so took it out and re-did it.

This one needs a little extra "oomph" to get in place.

There. Got it.

Brennan was so excited to help out. It was almost as if he knew how important this was and how honored he was to be allowed to participate. Or maybe he was just excited that he "escaped" his nap as this was done around naptime. But this truly was a job right up his alley and this is such an important time for the Lau boys and they all try to get leave to be able to come back and serve in the commemoration exercises. We were sad not to see Uncle Andy who just recently re-upped with the Army and is now a Warrant Officer and assigned to his baby, the CH-47 Chinook helicopter. He's currently down in training in AL and was not able to get leave to come up to Dickeyville. That's typical during pilot training in all branches...AF too!

Vin's personal goal is to make it back to Dickeyville every Memorial Day weekend that he can. Even while training with the military and living in Germany, he's been able to make it back for 4 out of 6 Memorial Day weekends.

Vin's dad, Ronnie, is the Dickeyville VFW Post Commander and Vin and Andy are both now VFW Lifelong Members since they've both had the chance to "eat some sand" and serve their country. Serving their country and honoring the Fallen are the highest of honors for them.

And Uncle Tim served in the Marines before being medically discharged a few years ago. Since then, he's honored the other side of the Lau tradition by becoming a volunteer EMT. He looks forward to going to Paramedic school so he can learn more and is very active with attending all the Continuing Education courses available through the Dickeyville-Paris Rescue Squad/Fire Dept. We missed saying good-bye to him as a Squad Call came right as we were ready to load up to go to the airport and he was off in a flash to do what he could to help someone in need. No rest for the weary indeed. Luckily, we'd just gotten *done* eating breakfast unlike the day before when we were just sitting down to eat lunch and a call came through the radios and Vin's Dad and Tim were out the door lickety-split. Their service is critical to the townspeople of Dickeyville who keep them hopping.

Our boys are so blessed to have such fine role models to teach them and for them to honor just in their own family, let alone the surrounding community.

All those who serve make a path for others to follow. By their service, they lead others. May
Brennan and Alex come to understand that early in their youth and strive to serve as their father, uncles, grandfather, great-grandfathers and so on have done.