I know I say it every year—and I’ll probably continue to say it every year—but Decoration Day at the Memorial Gardens in Collinwood, Tennessee always amazes me. The first time I ever made the journey (and it’s about a 45-minute trip from my house to the cemetery), I just sat in my van for the longest, looking at the magnificence and the number of people who were present.
Of course, that was the same year we opened the newly constructed funeral home in Collinwood, and I had spent the week there, trying to put everything in order before opening the doors to the world. So, I had watched as families came bearing flowers . . . and pictures . . . and all kinds of containers holding floral tributes. And when I say all kinds, I truly mean all kinds. There were toy trucks and bicycles, chairs and barrels, urns on pedestals, ginormous pots and traditional vases. That didn’t include the standing pieces and potted plants. And all the ferns. Lots and lots of massive ferns. It was so all-encompassing I felt like I couldn’t walk through the cemetery. There didn’t seem to be enough exposed grass to accommodate my feet.
And the people . . . The people of Collinwood and the surrounding area turn out in droves, slowly walking among the graves, admiring the handiwork and dedication of the families represented there, and visiting with others who have come for the same reason. Some of them set up tarps to provide shade as they spend the day with loved ones who have long since (or only recently) passed. Others may only intend to be there briefly, so they aren’t quite as prepared, but time quickly slips by at Decorations and, before they know it, they’ve spent an hour or more wandering about with their friends and neighbors.
Perhaps the most amazing and touching aspect of Decoration Day at Collinwood’s Memorial Gardens (at least for me) is the family tradition it obviously has become. In the days preceding Decoration, adult family members come with kids in tow, allowing . . . maybe even expecting . . . them to help as they arrange the items they’ve brought to honor the memories of their loved ones. They’re teaching these children the value of family and of not forgetting those who have left them. They’re teaching them to honor the memories of those they may never have met but who paved the way in life for them. After all, we are all a composite of those who came before us, whether we knew them or not.
If you’ve never gone, you now have 365 days (more or less, depending on when you’re reading this) to make your plans for Decoration 2025. It’s always the first Sunday in September. And so far, it’s always been amazing. I have absolutely no doubt that’s a tradition which will continue.
About the author: Lisa Shackelford Thomas is a fourth-generation member of a family that’s been in funeral service since 1926 and has worked with Shackelford Funeral Directors in Savannah, Tennessee for over 45 years. Any opinions expressed here are hers and hers alone and may or may not reflect the opinions of other Shackelford family members or staff.
