Memorial Day usually is the unofficial start of the all too brief summer in New England. Temperatures become hotter and days also become longer. For many grade school students, Memorial Day means that the end of the school year is in sight with only weeks remaining of books, teachers and homework.
The deeper meaning of Memorial Day is to remember the men and women who died while serving in our armed forces. The first Memorial Day service was held shortly after the end of the Civil War to remember all those who died from both the North and South.
Of late, it has become a day to remember our departed family members and friends who have also have died.
And perhaps this is what we as parents and mentors need to instill in this newest generation.
It seems that world is moving very fast and to get a day off is usually just accepted as a special three day weekend with really no thought of why.
We hope that on the hustle of getting the weekend homes ready for the coming season or being out on the golf course or just barbequing on Monday, that a few minutes is set aside to tell or hopefully remind our children of those family members and friends who have died much too young and what their ambitions were that have yet to be fulfilled in making this world and our community a better place to live for all. For their unfilled legacy falls to us and our children.
Have a safe and enjoyable Memorial Day.