Warm weather is fast approaching, and not a

moment too soon. We look forward to

summer months of beautiful weather,

grilling hamburgers and hotdogs, and spending

quality time outside with family and friends.

Americans look forward

to all the activities this

season brings, including

honoring our fallen

soldiers on Memorial

Day.

Memorial Day was first

observed on May 5, 1866.

The holiday was

originally known as

Decoration Day because it

was time set aside to

commemorate Civil War

casualties by decorating

their graves. During the first celebration, General

James Garfield spoke at Arlington National Cemetery,

after which 5,000 participants decorated 20,000

Union and Confederate soldiers’ graves. Following

World Wars I and II, observances across the nation

were held to honor those who had died. In 1971,

Congress declared Memorial Day to be a national

holiday to be celebrated the last Monday in May.

For many of us, it is a holiday that brings back a

mixture of happy and sad memories. My late father

and father-in-law served during World War II and the

Korean War, and I spend the holiday reminiscing

about their honorable lives. My father would tell me

stories of his service with a twinkle in his eyes. He

was a proud American,

thankful for the many

opportunities his country

allowed him. As I

remember my father and

his service to America,

my heavy heart bursts

with pride knowing that

he, and countless others,

are deeply appreciated

by so many.

So this Memorial Day

season, as you see

cemeteries filled with

flowers, take some time to remember our departed

soldiers. They fought hard so that we may be free to

enjoy our lives and the beautiful summer days with

friends and family. My staff and I send our sincerest

thank you to all our veterans and their

families.

Life!Life!News for the friends of Kirk Funeral Home

A newsletter to help you Celebrate Life!April 2010 Vol. VII No. 2

Blessings, Ken

Take Time to Remember

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Life! News for the friends of Kirk Funeral Home

As a Funeral Counselor, I have about eight

appointments a week with people about funeral

planning. The five most common reasons are:

1. They want to have plans in place so their

children won’t have to guess.

2. They want peace of mind knowing “It’s all

taken care of.”

3. Helping families with Title 19 eligibility.

4. They have questions about cremation.

5. They have questions about veteran issues

and benefits.

Here’s what one woman, Emma Gaa, wrote to tell me

after we met together:

I thought that by prepaying my funeral Iwould save the kids a lot of grief. It lookslike if I live as long as I expect, I will alsosave them money. Thanks for taking suchgood care of Mary and I. Sincerely, Emma Gaa

If you have any questions or would like

one of our free brochures, Three

Things to Know About Funeral

Planning, please call me at 342-3565.

Emma Gaa

Darlene Kremer

What People Say...

Epitaph QuizBelow are several epitaphs- can you match who they belong to?

1. GOOD FREND FOR JESUS SAKE FORBEARE TO DIGG THE

DUST ENCLOASED HEARE. BLEST BE YE MAN YT SPARES

THES STONES AND CURST BE HE YT MOVES MY BONES

2. MURDERD BY A TRAITOR AND A COWARD WHOSE NAME

IS NOT WORTHY TO APPEAR HERE

3. STEEL TRUE, BLADE STRAIGHT

4. EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY SOMETIME

5. A GENTLE MAN AND A GENTLEMAN

6. STRANGER APPROACH THIS SPOT WITH GRAVITY, JOHN

BROWN IS FILLING HIS LAST CAVITY

7. THE BEST IS YET TO COME

Refrigerator

WisdomImportant things we’ve read onpeople’s refrigerators:

He who laughs last, thinks slowest

Depression is merely anger without

enthusiasm

The early bird may get the worm, but

the second mouse gets the cheese

A clear conscience is usually the sign

of a bad memory

Hard work pays off in the future.

Laziness pays off now

Eagles may soar, but weasels don’t

get sucked into jet engines

Light travels faster than sound.

That’s why some people appear

bright until you hear them speak

A-Jack Dempsey B-Frank Sinatra C-William Shakespeare

D-A dentist E-Jesse James F-Oliver Wendell Holmes

G-Dean Martin

Answers:1:c, 2:e, 3:f, 4:g, 5:a, 6:d, 7:b

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Life! News for the friends of Kirk Funeral Home

GARDEN HEALTH

AHEAD!

1. Collard Greens

Collard Greens have high levels of calcium,

Vitamin E, and beta-carotene. In addition to

high selenium content.

2. Sweet Potatoes

The anti-oxidant properties of sweet

potatoes can help to rid the body of free

radicals. Sweet potatoes are also a good

source of iron, calcium and fiber.

3. Broccoli

Great at protecting your body from the

ravishes of cancer and for getting enough

calcium and vitamin C in your diet.

4. Onions

Help to lower blood sugar levels in

addition to promoting good cardiovascular

and gastrointestinal health.

5. Carrots

Perhaps the best source of the pro-vitamin A

carotene. They really can help strengthen the

vision, in particular night vision..

6. Spinach

Popeye was right! Spinach actually protects

us from a number of illnesses like arthritis,

heart disease and osteoporosis.

7. Kale

This vegetable has more dietary value per

calorie than most vegetables and can easily

be grown in home gardens.

8. Eggplant

Low in calories, this vegetable has high

levels of copper, potassium and fiber and

has a positive effect on cardiovascular

health.

9. Cucumbers

It has a positive overall effect on the body,

including the ligaments, bones and muscles.

10. Asparagus

Aside from promoting healthy skin, asparagus

also contains fiber and vitamin B6.

It is difficult to put one vegetable ahead of another – they’re all good for you! Here is a top 10 that should be consumed as a part of a healthy diet.

Veterans’ SeminarThere are many veterans who retire in this area

who are not aware of the latest benefitsavailable to them – includes presentations from

the Black Hills National Cemetery and thePennington County Veteran Service Officer.

When: Wednesday, May 12, 10 a.m.Where: TREA

Cremation SeminarAbout 30% of Americans are interested in

cremation. This will show you some of the many,many options, prices and services available.

When: Saturday, June 5, 10 a.m. and Saturday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m.

Where: Kirk Funeral Home

Senior MovieWe’ve arranged a private showing of “The Blind

Side” by invitation only if you’ve not seen themovie (or want to see it again).

This is your invitation!When: Friday, July 9, 10 a.m.

Where: The Elks Theatre

UPCOMING EVENTSHere are some of the events we have planned for the near future.

If you would like more information please call us at 342-3565.

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Life!Darlene Kremer - PublisherPO Box 2846 Rapid City, SD 57709"If you'd like this newsletter free ofcharge, call 605-343-4808"

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Flippin’ Over Friendsand FamilyWe had a fabulous turnout for our annualpancake feed for all the folks who haveadvance-planned funerals with us over theyears. We served over 400 people andreally enjoyed visiting with friends andfamily members. Here’s a picture of theKirk group just before the first pancake wasflipped. (Not pictured Maxine Sammeli.)

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