A Little Memorial Day Story — Let’s Remember

Photo from Susan Moore 1945 tree on ancestry.com

I never knew Ernest Brewer. To my knowledge I don’t know anyone related to Ernest Brewer. He is from my hometown — and he is buried here.

Let’s talk about Memorial Day. I’ve already seen people making it a generic military holiday this weekend. It makes me a bit crazy. Memorial Day is not a day for all veterans or those currently serving in the military. It’s the day we remember those who died in active military service.

Note I say “we remember”. I haven’t lost a friend or family member in active service — at least anyone of whom I am aware. Still, though I consider myself a pacifist, I believe we should find someone to honor each year.

I’ve done this for years and have chosen people randomly. Sometimes I make a list of attributes and find someone who met those specifications. The last few years I have found someone whose grave I can visit. I try to research to find out a little bit about that person in the grave.

So let me tell you about Ernest Brewer. He was born in my county — Iredell — in North Carolina in 1926. He joined the Army in January of 1944 and went to Germany in the fall of 1944.

He was married — his wife’s name was Margie (Mazie). They had two children — a young daughter and a son born after his deployment that he never met.