The period from mid May to mid June some most interesting events happen in the Mosaic that is often called History. This is the period book ended by Mothers Day and Fathers Day. In the United States we have at the end of May Memorial Day and in the next several days we have graduations over most of the country.
The Mosaic metaphor is a lot like the somewhat more familiar “can’t see the forest for the trees.” History is truly made up from a huge mosaic of tiles that are the individual people who are living in that historical period. It is quite complex because the tiles have a vertical axis which is the individual’s ancestors and the potential future progeny. Then there is the horizontal, maybe even radial, axis that represents the locality and culture in which each individual lives or to which they migrate.
In each case of the events mentioned the focus becomes intensely on the individual tiles. For Memorial Day our focus is on the veterans who have fallen in the wars defending our freedom and in many cases the freedoms we believe should be afforded to humanity. It is most inspiring as the names of those so remembered are read to the attendees. In many cases a bell is tolled. The famous phrase “Send not to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee” from John Donnes poem and made famous by Hemingway can raise chills in your soul.
Here in Calhoun County we work in what is called Warriors Weekend. This is a compliment to Memorial Day where we actually thank those warriors who sacrificed in many ways for the same reasons and did not die. That event is ennobling.
Graduation mirrors the ritual by the traditional marching across the stage to receive your diploma while your name is being read. Accompanying that march and reception is the traditional cheers and whoops of friend and family in the audience. Clearly this ritual is more celebratory of the future because of the most recent accomplishment of the graduates. They have achieved a goal and are preparing to move out into the world to make their mark, however deep that mark may become.
In both cases the lasting effect on the mosaic is not known precisely. In the case of Memorial Day we do not know what accomplishments that early departure has caused the world to lose. In the case of graduation we do not know which of those will make that huge impact on the world. We just know that something important was lost and that some important promise is stepping out.
This balancing symmetry both of time and focus on the individual time is a probably an unnoticed confluence of the combined meaning of the events. As one contemplates both of these they surely will begin to hear the toll of a bell in their lives. They will know the bell tolled Then and is tolling Now for them…
Flags Fly at Cemetery - Thanks go out to the volunteers who installed flags along the entrance of Port O’Connor Cemetery in observance of Memorial Day. The flags were purchased by the Port O’Connor Service Club and had been installed along the highway for Warrior’s Weekend. -Photo by Patricia Mayhall
