Inspired by the wonderful essay, “More Than Flags and Flowers: How a changing city can remember together” by Caitie Hilverman, I share my father’s story.

From the essay:
“This Memorial Day, I wonder what it would look like if we worked a little harder to remember. What if we held storytelling circles? What if we asked veterans what they’d like us to carry forward—what their service meant, what it cost? What if we brought newcomers and long-time Hudson families into conversation, not just across a table, but across time?

What kind of community would we become if we treated memory not as decoration, but as a shared responsibility?

Yes, it takes time. It takes effort. But I suspect it would change us — for the better.”