Memorial Day is one of those times you gotta love living in a small town.
And our little village does it right: Parade, service, speeches, artillery salute, and a moving rendition of Taps, using a three-trumpet echo across the waterfall in the center of town. The high school band plays patriotic tunes, and selected students sing The National Anthem, a capella (the last few years, that group has included the vocally-gifted Step 2, and today was no exception!) The local Vets place a wreath at the Veterans Memorial, and set a table for the soldiers who never made it home. It never fails to bring a tear to my eye.
We truly do owe a debt of gratitude to those who have so honorably served in defense of this nation and its ideals. Our calm, simple country lives would not be possible but for their sacrifices.
Be sure to thank a Vet today. And any chance you get.
Three years ago we celebrated Memorial Day for the first time with our little Sunny Boy, too (he arrived at 1:00 in the morning on May 26, 2006). Here's my all-time favorite Memorial Day photo, taken Memorial Day 2006:
(The Chief, of course, is the one with the baba.) :)
Just one more reason to be grateful.
That's a classic picture - vet with a bottle! There's not much sweeter than that!
Posted by: michelle waters | May 26, 2009 at 10:11 PM