Decoration Day Quilt

When I'm Gone

By Mrs. Lyman Hancock

When I come to the end of my journey

And I travel my last weary mile,

Just forget if you can, that I ever frowned

And remember only the smile.

Forget unkind words I have spoken;

Remember some good I have done.

Forget that I ever had heartache

And remember I've had loads of fun.

Forget that I've stumbled and blundered

And sometimes fell by the way.

Remember I have fought some hard battles

And won, ere the close of the day.

Then forget to grieve for my going,

I would not have you sad for a day,

But in summer just gather some flowers

And remember the place where I lay,

And come in the shade of evening

When the sun paints the sky in the west

Stand for a few moments beside me

And remember only my best.

My inspiration was a Feedsack Flags small quilt in the book Patriotic Little Quilts, by Alice Berg, Sylvia Johnson, and Mary Ellen VonHolt, page 43:

Memorial Day, which used to be called Decoration Day,  is a day of remembrance in the United States for those who have died in service to our country.  My Decoration Day Quilt is 25 inches wide and 23 inches long, and is machine pieced and machine quilted.   Everything was from my stash, even the binding was left over from a quilt I made for a granddaughter.  I have memories of going with the whole town to the cemetery for a ceremony including a 21 gun salute, taps, and prayers, when I was a child.  My father wore his WWII uniform, and I waved a small flag, as did all the other children.


Here's a picture of the front of the quilt without the vase of flowers, and another picture of the back, showing the hanging corner triangles.