1 Memorial Day

Memorial Day is a Federal holiday in the United States observed on the last Monday of May. Although it can occur as early in the calendar as May 25, this year the holiday falls on May 31. It was formerly known as Decoration Day, which is what I always remember it being called as I was a child growing up in eastern Oregon and southwestern Idaho.

The holiday officially commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service, but the day has become generalized to honor all loved ones who have died. It has also become the unofficial start of the summer vacation season, which extends from Memorial Day on the last Monday of May until Labor Day on the first Monday in September.

First enacted to honor Union soldiers who served during the Civil War (1861-1865), the holiday expanded after the two World Wars (1917-18 and 1941-45) during the last century. Many of the states in the South refused to celebrate Decoration Day because of lingering hostility toward the Union Army and because there were relatively few veterans of the Union Army buried in the South.

Although the alternative name "Memorial Day" was first used in 1882, the name did not become common until after World War II and was not declared official by Federal law until 1967. In 1971 the holiday moved from May 30, its traditional date, to the last Monday of May.

A tradition associated with Memorial Day is flying the flag at half-staff from dawn until noon. To help re-educate and remind Americans of the true meaning of Memorial Day, the "National Moment of Remembrance" resolution was passed in December 2000 asking that at 3:00 p.m. in each time zone on Memorial Day all Americans "voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to Taps."

A tradition I remember from childhood that is no longer observed, as far as I can tell, is that cars would drive with lights on during the morning hours until noon.

The National Memorial Day Concert takes place on the west lawn of the United States Capitol where music is performed and respect paid to the men and women who gave their lives for their country. The concert is broadcast on both PBS and NPR.

In addition to remembrance, the day is also widely used as a time for picnics, barbecues, family gatherings and outings, and sporting events. One of the longest-standing traditions is the running of the Indianapolis 500, an auto race that has been held in conjunction with Memorial Day since 1911.

We wish all of you in our family an enjoyable and safe Memorial Day weekend, whatever your plans or wherever your comings and goings. One way we are celebrating is not publishing the Cleverly Newsletter next week, so see you again in two weeks (on Tuesday, June 8).

2 Quote of the week

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself.

— Joseph Campbell

3 This week in our family

We are taking a Memorial Day holiday break and will not publish the newsletter next week, so we share two weeks of family happenings this week

Tues, May 25: Melissa's [Kyle's wife] birthday [Kay]
Tues, May 25: Gene & Cheryl married 1966 [Gene]
Wed, May 26: Caleb's birthday [Dean]
Wed, May 26: Gabriel Price's birthday [Lyle]
Thurs, May 27: Brandon's birthday [Kay]
Fri, May 28: Nicholas Riley's birthday [Lyle]
Mon, May 31: Memorial Day

Wed, June 2: Talmage's birthday [Dean]
Thurs, June 3: Bill & Kelly married 1982 [Gail]
Thurs, June 3: Randy & Valerie married 1988 [Lyle]
Sun, June 4: Fast Sunday
Mon, June 7: Shauna Reher's birthday [Ray]
Tues, June 8: Jared Sayer's birthday [Jackie]
Tues, June 8: Miriam Hoff's birthday [Dean]
Tues, June 8: Gail died 2000 [Gail] 
Tues, June 8: Next issue of newsletter

4 Bits and tidbits

Lyle's family
Lyle called on Wednesday afternoon, May 19, to report that Marc's baby was born in Boise on May 19. Marcus Christian Cleverly weighed 7 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 1/2 inches long.

Lyle also reported that he is going up to Washington for the Memorial Day weekend. Terry and Becky are planning to go down to visit Stan's family in Aberdeen and Doug's in Hoquiam for the weekend.

Lyle's granddaughter Amber, who lives with her husband Nathan Thomas in Spokane, was one of the few who responded a couple months ago to our census request for family information. I recorded the information she sent me, but I don't think I ever shared the update she provided on a couple of her siblings:

"In other family news, my brother Aric Cleverly is currently going to college at Central Washington University and living in Ellensburg, WA. My brother Aaron Cleverly is currently living and working in Aberdeen, WA. My parents (Stan and Patty) continue to live in Aberdeen, WA. Thanks for all of your work on the newsletter!!!"

I also failed to include her husband Nathan's birthday on our family calendar a couple weeks ago: His birthday was on May 17. A belated happy birthday to him.

Kay's family

Chad and Nicolle's son Easton just graduated from preschool on Saturday, May 22. Our heart-felt congratulations to him.

You can see a report of the day on their family's blog. We share here a picture of the Higley family. Easton is the one on the right in the white shirt and tie (being held by his dad).






Dean's family
Michael and Shauna's second child, Caleb, turns 12 tomorrow and will receive the Aaronic Priesthood and be ordained a deacon this coming Sunday afternoon, May 30, by his father Michael.

Cade Hoff, Rebecca's husband, spent several days in Las Vegas last week at a work-related convention or workshop. And Paul and Eliza Challis and their two boys drove Saturday night from Atlanta to Houston, where Paul yesterday and today was likewise involved in some pharmacy-related training. They will be returning home Wednesday. Eliza reported that they had an opportunity to visit the Space Center there in Houston, and they enjoyed that a lot.

5 Our family 50 years ago

Excerpts from the May 1960 diary of Dorothy Batt Cleverly (1915–1982) recounting a trip to Utah. The full text of her diary can be found online at Dorothy's Idaho Diaries and is updated daily, exactly 50 years to the day after it was originally written. The family at the time lived on a 40-acre farm in the Deer Flat area south of Nampa, Idaho.

Wed, May 25.  I came home from work & Ivard had gone to work at 8: in Nampa. I was supposed to go to Boise to Dr. but it was last day of school & picnic & Kids bawled to go so I called Leva & told her I wouldn't go & I took Kids to school. They never got home until 4:30. They got permoted. I got supper & we ate & Ivard & I went in to church to genelogy meeting & on way home we decided to go to Utah. Went to Bishops at 10: & got Recomend then went to Hern's & got it signed then called in at 11: & laid off.

Thurs, May 26.  We got up at 3:45 A:M & at 4:25 we left for Utah - Ivard & I Dean, Dale & Jackie. We stoped at Hazelton & ate breakfast & at Burley for gas. We got down to Marv's at 11:30 & visited Sara, Howard & them & Sarah got us dinner & I helped her do dishes then at 3: we went over to Irvins & showered & got ready & left Kids & went to Salt Lake to Temple & went through with Marv & Loraine, they got endowment & had all the Kids but Lee Ann sealed to them after they were married. Marva & her guy got their endowments & will be married in morning. Its the biggest Session I've ever been on about 40 in Marv's party. After Ivard & I, IRv & Ruth and Wanda & Milt Went to Harmans & ate Shrimp got to Irv's at 11: & went to bed, I was dead.

Fri, May 27.  We got up & ate & cleaned up & left Kids at Ruths all day & Ivard & I went to Salt Lake at 9: I bought me some underwear & bra & shoes, & exchanged 2 pr. garments Ma sent me that were too big then we went to Gold Strike Center & got a carving set & icecream scoop for Marva's reception then I went up in ZCMI & talked to Ruth half hr. We had milk Shake & went on to Louies & copied genelogy then Ivard stayed & did it & I went to Bountiful at 3: & had hair cut, color shampoo & set went back & Louie fixed us supper & we went back to Irv.'s & Kids had eaten. I fixed my girdle & slip & had shower & we got ready & went up to Stake House to Marva's wedding reception with Ruth & Irvin It sure was nice. We danced. came home at 11: & went to bed at Irvins.

Sat, May 28.  We got up at 7: & had showe & ate with Irv. before he went over to the store then I helped Ruth do dishes & cleaned up downstairs & packed all our stuff & we left for Grantsville stoped at Marv. for couple of hrs & Ivard went with Marv to take Kids to little league & Lorraine & I delivered card tables. We got out to Mothers at 1: & she'd gone to Spokane. Berniece fixed us dinner & we visited & I got Ma & Kents genelogy out & started copying what I don't have. We ate & did dishes & watched some of their movies of Dad, Ma, & us & them. We all slept over in Mothers house. went to bed about 9:30. Ray & Gene called, wrecked a tractor tire.

Sun, May 29.  Ken had to work today. We ate & Berniece & her Kids & Dean went to sunday school. Ivard did dishes and I copied mothers & Kents genelogy I didn't have until after noon. Berniece got dinner & we ate & visited. At 4:45 Berniece, Ivard & I & all the Kids went to church & after we rode up to Tooele & saw the town then Ivard bought us hambergers, fry & root beer & we went down to Park & ate. I had milk Shake after we went back to Bernieces & all got to bed early every one was so tired.

Mon, May 30.  We got up & had breakfast and I worked on some more genelogy, copied sheets of Mas & Kents at 10: Berniece & I & Kids went to cemetary & decorated grave then up to Beverly & saw her new house. came back at noon & fixed stuff & we went up the canyon & cooked our supper. It sure was good. Kids hiked & I read book. We came back to Bernieces at 6: & I did some more genelogy. We had icecream & went to bed about 9: & I laid & finished reading my book, until about midnite It was sure hot today cool up the canyon. Ken didn't work today - We went up canyon in two cars.

Tues, May 31.  I got up at 7:30 & changed mothers beds & gathered up all our cloths & packed & had bath & we went over to Berniece's & ate & at 9:30 we went over to Irvins & got a few groc. to bring home & at 11: we left for home. We ate along in car, stoped for gas. We got home at 6:30 p.m. Gene & Ray left for Mutual right after & we ate & Kids went to bed.

6 What in the world

A new temple dedicated
The Gila Valley Arizona Temple, the 132nd in the Church and the 3rd in the state of Arizona, was dedicated this past Sunday by President Thomas S. Monson. The other two Arizona temples are in Mesa and Snowflake. The new temple, located in the eastern Arizona town of Central, will also serve the nearby communities of Pima, Safford, and Thatcher.

A former President of the Church, Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985), was from The Gila Valley. He grew up in Thatcher and was living in Safford when he was called in 1943 as an apostle.

The world explained by graphs

7 A final word

When the Lord God brought our fathers, the children of Israel, out of Egypt into the promised land, He reminded them that He was giving them cities which they had not built, houses full of good things they had not filled, wells they had not dug, and vineyards they had not planted (see Deuteronomy 6:10–11). Sort of like us today in the early years of the 21st century.

"Beware," He cautions them, "lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" (Deuteronomy 6:12).

"And thou shalt remember," He says unto them later, "that thou wast a bondsman in the land of Egypt, and the Lord thy God redeemed thee" (Deuteronomy 15:15).

This pattern of remembrance runs throughout the scriptures: We are in bondage and the Lord delivers and redeems us. And we are to remember that deliverance and redemption.

Indeed, an important purpose of the scriptures is that "they have enlarged the memory of this people . . . and brought them to the knowledge of their God" (Alma 37:8).

We are enjoined in many places throughout the scriptures to remember the Lord our Redeemer and what He has done both for our fathers and for us. The word "remember," in some form or another, appears 454 times in the scriptures.

The summer that spreads before us is strewn with opportunities to remember our past, to recall what the Lord has done for our fathers, to recount what blessings we enjoy at His hand.

This coming Monday is Memorial Day, a day set aside to remember specifically those who sacrificed their lives in the defense of freedom and more generally all loved ones who have passed on to the other side.

Two weeks after that is Flag Day, a chance to remember the symbol of our God-given freedoms, a chance to reflect on the opportunities and responsibilities of living in this "sweet land of liberty" (Hymns, 339), "the land of the free and the home of the brave" (Hymns, 340). The Lord Himself referred to it as "a land which is choice above all the lands of the earth" (Ether 1:42).

Three weeks later, on the Fourth of July, we celebrate the birthday of our country and remember again that the Lord has particular designs for the destiny of this nation. He declared, "And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I have raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood" (D&C 101:80).

And finally, we celebrate Pioneer Day, a wonderful commemoration of the great migration of our forebears to these western valleys. We remember their sacrifices, their devotion, their faith as they fulfilled the ancient prophecy that "the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose" (Isaiah 35:1) as the Lord "set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people" (Isaiah 11:11; 2 Nephi 21:11).

Deliverance and redemption. May each of us remember. And may each of us declare, as did the Psalmist anciently, "I will remember the works of the Lord: surely I will remember thy wonders of old" (Psalms 77:11).