Strawberry Pie

Well it's Memorial Day weekend for us and it just didn't seem right not to have something red/white/blue for Sunday lunch)) So I opted for my mother's version of Shoney's Strawberry Pie. 1 baked pie shell (prepare as directed on the package) 2 T cornstarch 1 cup sugar 1 cup water 1/2 package Strawberry Jello Cool Whip Mix water, cornstarch and sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook, stirring for about 3-5 minutes or until thick. Remove from heat and add the Jello. Stir in and allow to cool. Place strawberries in baked pie shell. (I like to leave mine whole, but they can be sliced.) It takes about 1 - 1/2 pints. Pour the thickened filling over the strawberries and fill up to the edge of the pie crust. Chill for 2-3 hours. Spread Cool Whip over the top of the strawberries once the pie has sufficiently cooled. Cool whip can be spread with a knife or dropped in dollops or use a pastry bag going around the inside edges with a big dollop in the middle. Keep refrigerated. Great Memorial Day dessert))) Memorial Day.....yes it's a national holiday tomorrow and a day off work for most of us....and yes, we'll cook out and have burgers, corn on the cob and ice cream.....play some softball...do some swimming and just sit on the back porch.....but we will also remember....it is Memorial Day. When my husband (boy friend at the time) was in service during the Viet Nam War, he was one of the lucky ones that got sent to Korea. I've often wondered how his mother and daddy must have felt to see him board that plane. I know how hard it was for me.....but it had to be different for his family. His daddy said at the airport, that he would never see him again. Everyone was emotional, goodbyes are never easy. But his daddy was right, he never saw him again. Just a few months into his service in Korea, his dad died at age 39 of a massive MI. It took days for the American Red Cross to get him home from Korea, but he didn't have to go back and was stationed in the USA after that. This morning in church, we were standing for a beautiful rendition of the Battle Hymn of the Republic and my youngest grandson (4 years old) was standing in front of me and I had my hands on his shoulders. He had been in my lap before we stood for the special music..yes I had candy....I know...but isn't that what grandmothers are for? Anyway, while were were standing and my hands were on him.....I imagined any one of my grandchildren going off to war and thought how could I bear it...How could I possibly go on just living my life when they might be faced with death at any time in a battle thousands of miles away from home. How could one bear it? How could anyone bear such a burden. But I would, just like so many mothers, wives, sisters, brothers and grandparents who already have and are doing that right now. We need to remember who are heroes are.....it's those who serve mankind....and their families who are awaiting their safe return. We are American and that still means something in this chaotic time we live in. Memorial Day has a reason.....we need to remember that reason.