Baptist Betty

Baptist Betty

What Does Memorial Day Mean To You? 

            This is a test—think quickly—what does Memorial Day mean to you? Is a trip to the beach on your agenda,  can vacation time now be used, is gas way too high, or simply, you have a three day week-end (which is most important to lots of working folk) or even I can sleep late for a few mornings!  There was a time when none of the above was the correct answer.  What was important a few decades ago, has been swept aside.

            The traditional observance and meaning of Memorial Day has been lost in the hustle and bustle of life, I’m afraid.  It has diminished rapidly over the years and almost no one knows the proper respect for a time when a parade down the main street or a visit to the cemetery let you know it was a day to honor all those who sacrificed their lives to keep their country free. Our country would not be liberated today, without the valiant souls whose graves we honor.  We should never forget lives lost so we might live.

            A few years before the end of the Civil War, southern ladies would gather and go to cemeteries and decorate the graves of fallen heroes of that tragic war.  Legend has it that it began in Richmond but other southern cities also lay claim. This was called “Decoration Day” and locally, we called it just that. In 1868, Memorial Day was proclaimed to honor Union and Confederate lives that were lost in the war but, southerners held to their own traditions of Decoration Day until after World War I when the day was changed to honor all service personnel who had given their lives in the service of their country. Our mighty heroes who lived so short a time and gave their lives for our well being, they were now all honored. 

            Many organizations decorate the graves with small American flags on Memorial Day. In 1971, Congress made it a three-day week-end and that has made people even more distracted from the true meaning of Memorial Day.  No matter where you travel or where you roam, stop and remember those who laid down their lives to better our country. God watches over all of our heroes, neither race, country or religion makes a difference.

     I offer you another one of Bonnie Cash’s recipes this month that was inadvertently left from our cookbook. I love cookies and these are yummy.

Maple Walnut White Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 pouch (1 lb. 5oz.) Betty Crocker sugar cookie mix

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 T. maple flavoring

1 egg

1 1/2 cups white vanilla baking chips

1 cup chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 350°.  In large bowl, stir cookie mix, butter, maple flavoring and egg until soft dough forms.  Stir in baking chips and walnuts.  Using small cookie scoop or T., drop dough 2” apart on ungreased sheets.  Bake 12– 14 minutes or until edges are golden brown.  Cool 2 minutes; remove from cookie sheets to wire rack.  Cool completely.  Store covered at room temperature.  Makes 24 cookies.    Semisweet, dark or milk chocolate chips may be used 

In place of  vanilla baking chips.             

                                                 Thank you, Bonnie!