JAMESTOWN – Today is Memorial Day, a day to honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Military.
In Jamestown and many towns across Chautauqua County, parades and ceremonies will be held to honor troops who never made it home.
This past weekend at the Blue Star Mothers Gold Star Memorial, Jamestown Mayor Sam Teresi spoke to the sacrifices made for our freedom.
“What I realized is that whatever words are spoke from this podium today, or thereafter, can not match the eloquence of the service and the sacrifice of those that we are here honoring today,” said Teresi.
The Mayor went on to reference ‘The Greatest Generation’ who fought during World War II.
“They literally stood up to, stared down and defeated evil like this world has never known before,” Teresi said. “We owe them a debt that we can never repay, because they gave us not just liberty but continued life.”
This holiday is a time to think of young lives cut short, of wives and husbands turned into widows and widowers, of children growing up without a father or mother, of parents burying their children.
Memorial Day is a time for reflection, pause, remembrance and thanksgiving for patriots who gave up their own lives to protect the lives and freedom of us all; including the freedom of generations long gone and generations yet unborn.
For many Americans this solemn holiday is only known as the unofficial start to summer boasting barbecues, days at the beach, time spent on baseball fields and golf courses, hiking and enjoying the great the outdoors.
While we enjoy the ‘kick off to summer’, take a moment to remember all the fallen sailors, soldiers, airmen, Marines and Coast Guard members who have so bravely served our country, as well as their families.
