The Festival of Flags happens each Memorial Day in Ferndale, Washington, and the path to the remembrance ceremony is lined with American flags – over 1,500 of them. This “Avenue of Flags” honors military service veterans, and each flag pole identifies an individual who died in service to our country.

Walking through The Avenue of Flags today, and also past the gravestones in Greenacres Memorial Park, I was reminded of all my loved ones who are no longer physically with me. I live with warm memories of my grandparents and great-grandparents, aunts and uncles, and all of those who have gone before me.  They are certainly not forgotten.