Memorial Day, May 25, 2015--Annis-Little Butte Cemetery, Annis, Idaho

Memorial Day, May 25, 2015--Annis-Little Butte Cemetery
Darrel L. Hammon

Memorial Day 2015 was again one of those days we spent in the cemeteries of eastern Idaho, particularly the Annis-Little Butte Cemetery, near Menan, Idaho, where I was raised. Both Joanne's parents and my parents are buried there along with my little brother Heber and my niece Alisha. Plus, Joanne's grandparents, uncles, and cousins are buried there as well.

Joanne and her sister Lou Jean

This year Memorial Day could be considered one of those "hit and run" kind of days. Joanne and I along with her sister Lou Jean and husband Lonnie trundled up to Annis for the day, leaving pretty early in the a.m. to visit a couple of cemeteries. One of the most beautiful cemeteries is the Annis-Little Butte, located in Annis, Idaho. Many people were there, placing flowers on graves, visiting with and meeting relatives and friends they hadn't seen in years, and reliving old stories and earlier lives. These stories probably ought to be written down if they haven't already.

We spent some time at Joanne and Lou Jean's parents' grave. This was the first time we had been back after their mother joined her husband in July 2014. It was rather poignant as we stood there and took in the newness of it all. She loved flowers; so, it was wonderful that many flowers surrounded their graves. She can finally smell them now!

Luke and Wilma Boltz

 My parents are buried there in one of the newer sections of the cemetery. It is sometimes hard to believe they are gone and that I am an orphan. I remember when Renae Olaveson Hampton said to me, "Darrel, now we are both orphans." Tears came to our eyes. Yes, I am an orphan; Joanne is now an orphan.

Dean and Barbara Hammon

Next to my parents' grave is my brother Heber's grave. I was deeply disappointed that we hadn't finished the headstone project for him. My siblings and I will visit about this. My sister Delaina and her family were there, visiting Mom, Dad, and Heber. He left us too soon.

Heber James Hammon

Cemeteries are those kinds of places where you can relive the past, seek the future, and experience the present. One of the pasts was my visit to the graves of four from the Tranquilino López Family. Each time I visit the Annis-Little Butte Cemetery, I walked to where Tranquilino, Mario, Juanita, y Benjamin are buried. They were killed in a terrible automobile accident in 1978 in Menan. Graciela, Eduardo, and Bulmarito all survived but not without consequences. Mrs. López was at home. What a tragedy!

Another past experience was working for Bud Hart.  He is buried along his parents' grave and not far from Joanne's parents' grave. Bud was one of my mentors growing up. I worked for him and his father on their farm. It was an incredible experience working for them. Both my brothers and my cousins Deloy and Terry each took a turn working for the Harts. I think they liked the work ethic of the Hammon boys. 

The famous "Bud" Hart

I also went to visit my Uncle Wilford's and Aunt Beth's grave. Uncle Wilford is my Dad's older brother who loved to carve. I learned much from Uncle Wilford. He was a consummate Scouter and story teller.

Uncle Wilford and Aunt Beth

This is part of the group that was there with us: Joanne's sister Lou Jean and her husband Lonnie, their son Jason and his wife Kim with their three children: Thomas, Blake, and Abby.

The Clan

Cemetery visits can be enlightening and simultaneously poignant, visits that allow you to let emotions gush from your soul. These emotions remind us that we are human and that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father who loves us and fills us with peace and comfort when we need them. Today was one of those days. Families are incredible units, fathers, mothers, cousins, uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and friends. And we are continually blessed because of them.