Memorial Day in New York City | Image: Laura Messersmith — **Memorial Day in New York City** | Image: *Laura Messersmith*

When I was growing up we always celebrated Memorial Day with the annual community parade. The school band learned to march for a day; local fire and police departments showed up in their dress uniforms; all the Boy and Girl Scouts carried banners for their troops. The parade went straight up the main road of town to the small leafy cemetery for speeches and a twenty-one gun salute. At that point it was a three-day weekend and later the un-official/official start of Summer.

I didn’t learn about the reason for Memorial Day until many years later when my husband (a Navy veteran) explained that today is the day we remember the men and women who have fallen in service to the United States of America. I hope today was a day of rest for you, but also one of reflection. I’m in awe of what these brave individuals and their families have given. Today is the day we give thanks for their courage and honor their sacrifice.