Memorial Day

Our Boy Scout Troop used to march in the Village of Williamsville Memorial Day parade.  During our weekly meetings several weeks prior to the event 40 or so of us would practice marching.  While learning to march might seem like learning to boil water there's more to it than meets the eye.  Besides staying in a straight line front ways and side ways the group also needed to start and stop at the same time.  On Memorial Day we'd queue up at one end of the Village and finish at the Cemetary where speeches would be read and veterans recognized.  I was eleven and at the time it didn't mean a lot to me.  As the years have passed my gratitude to the men and women who left their ordinary lives to give extraordinary service on behalf of others has grown exponentially.  We live in a place where the ability to choose our leaders is the order of the day; where public discourse is supported and encouraged and the bells of freedom ring throughout our land.  Today, in between working in the garden and this afternoon's barbeque pause and remember what this day is all about.  It will be time well spent.