Despite seeing and photographing many of the same faces in the region’s Memorial Day parades, and sometimes hearing the same or very similar messages delivered by clergy and others, I always come away feeling a bit melancholy and a bit proud that we live in a region that makes it a point to hold ceremonies to remember those who never returned from war and who fought for our freedom.

The term, “We must never forget,” rings true in most of us when Memorial Day rolls around, but many people have lost relatives to war and conflicts and they live their daily lives never forgetting that a father, mother, brother, sister, or other relatives never came home. And some people never found out what happened to their loved one, having been labeled MIA.

As a country, we should never forget. At least two speakers this year made it a point to tell the older generation to teach the youngest generation about the history of our country, the reasons for war and the protection of our freedoms. It was nice to see several young families watching and listening along the sides of the road on Memorial Day.

Thank you, American Legion Post 36, and the many others who participated in the Memorial Day ceremonies. Thanks for not letting us forget.