HONORING OUR ELDERS : Family Traditions Contest by @sultnpapper

THE BEST LITTLE FAMILY REUNION IN EAST TEXAS. That's what it's billed as. And, I'm not joking. Just ask anyone around those parts who's visited in the past 20 years.

Besides having our traditional face painting for the kids, music, bar-be-que cook off, moonwalk, raffles, bingo, and reunion lotto scratch off tickets for the adults, we have another tradition that holds the families groups together. It brings them back annually for a 3-day weekend reunion event to celebrate our heritage.

We call the Family Tradition: HONORING OUR SENIORS.
We do this in two ways:

Family Reunion Friday: Maintaining the Family Cemetery

This is one of the two family's teachings that guides us annually to perform this beautiful tribute to our ancestors. So, on the weekend of the reunion that Friday, all adults bring their tools and clean the headstones, remove fallen limbs and debris, and maintain the grounds inside and around the cemetery.

That the final resting place for our seniors who recently passed and all other ancestors from the preceding four to five generations will enjoy a clean, freshly manicured environment to rest. And it looks beautiful after new flower arrangements are placed.

Family Reunion Sunday: Honor Our Seniors Day

This is the second of two family teachings that guide us on Sunday of family reunion weekend, our Senior are the most important family members at the reunion. They get their own seating area with covered tents. We have young adults cater to them the entire time they are in attendance. We have a souvenir booklet with their names and ages indicated. And, they are honored with a poem recited and special gifts distributed to each. We gave a special crown for all seniors over the age of 100 years.

We start with 100 years old and above. Several years ago, we have a beautiful young lady who was over the age of 100. She took the crown for 12 years until she finally left us to receive the ultimate Crown.

Next we have the 90 - 99 age group. Then 80 - 89 group. We continue this until we get to age 65. If we have any seniors who are ill and can't attend, we mail them their gifts and remembrances of that year's reunion. It's a fun day with laughter and celebration.

I'm proud to say that the Family Tradition of Honoring Our Elders was my idea, together with one other family member who began the practice many years ago. The year 2020 will be the second time in its 30-year history the reunion weekend will be cancelled. The first due to a tornado several years ago; this year due to COVID-19.

However, we have trained our young adults to continue on and never, never forget our Seniors. We also knew that one day, we would be sitting under the shade being catered to. Now, I call that reunion planning!