Memorial Weekend 2012 Wrap Up

It was a busy weekend, and a nice kick off to the summer season. AJ got off safely to Germany, and is enjoying his 10 day vacation with friends in Munich. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to share when he returns.  (If he knows what's good for him, he'll be taking LOTS of pictures - it's the ONLY thing I asked him to bring home for me.) 

After taking him to the airport early Saturday morning, we went to the cemetery. It was a spectacular site to see all 67,000 grave adorned with American flags in honor of Memorial Day. Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, along with other volunteers start placing the flags at 6:30am on Saturday morning. We arrived before noon and they we long done. It was a beautiful, solemn site to see.

 As far as the eye could see...

 Ah...Poppa.

 I always loved to kiss my Dad on his bald forehead.  This will have to suffice from now on.

After a party at a friend's house on Sunday afternoon, we had a full day ahead of us on Monday. We started off bright at early at the Kensington Memorial Day Parade with my Golden Retriever group. It was the 6th year in a row we've walked in the parade and as always, it was a ton of fun. It's so cool to hear people say "Oh, here come the Goldens! They are the best part of the parade!" Of course I agree!

 What a great looking group!

 Kona working the crowd-what a shock! The therapy dog in him always comes out!

After the parade we headed home and got ready for a last minute BBQ we'd thrown together. Another friend had a party planned but had to postpone due to a sick pup, so we basically moved the party to our house, added a couple of neighbors to the mix and had a fun, relaxing afternoon.

Before the BBQ got rolling, I took my annual Memorial Day pictures of the pups in their patriotic bandannas.  I don't know exactly why I started taking pictures of them on Memorial Day, but I've done it every year for the last 4 or 5 years now, and these are always some of my very favorite pictures I take of them all year long.  Here are the best from this year's batch.

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the back yard with friends, and family, enjoying the food, fantastic weather, and a little time for reflection.

Miss you Pops, and I know Jill does too.