Memorial Day, 5.30.11

Today is Memorial Day and our town of Medina has a parade.   It starts at the square, come down about 10 blocks and ends at Spring Grove Cemetery.   It is only a block to the parade route from our house so Julia and I usually walk up and watch it.    We did that today.

Much is said about how people no longer stand when the flag passes by.   Please note that almost everybody is standing.  Not only that, they clapped for every military unit that went by.  I believe that respect for the flag, the country and its service men is very much alive and well in Medina, Ohio.

And we had bands!    First the Medina High School band, then the two two middle school bands went by. All playing patriotic music.

Medina High School Band

Claggett Middle School Band

And Boy Scouts.

And Girl Scouts.

And Fire Engines.

And finally we had motorcycles.

Yes we had a parade to salute the service men that died over the years.   On today's news it was stated that in all the wars the United States has been involved in, more than 1 million men and women have died.   This surely shows that "Freedom is not Free".

I close this posting with short poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1807 - 1882 "Decoration Day", honoring all who served, and remembering those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice

Your silent tents of green

We deck with fragrant flowers;

Yours has the suffering been,

The memory shall be ours.

God bless the United States of America