Memorial Day in a Small Town

May 30, 2011

We don’t remember the last time we heard of a small town actually having a Memorial Day Ceremony let alone actually attending one. For many, the meaning of this day is to herald the opening of the local public pool, or the “official opening of the grilling season” or some other such reason. As I walked over to get Bear a fresh baked cinnamon roll, I noticed a podium at the base of the local war memorial where the names of the war dead of this little town are chiseled on the monument. As it turned out, this little town of 12,000 people did it right. Full dress Marine color guard presented colors. US Senator Nelson and a very impressive US Marine, a recently retired female Major General, gave outstanding speeches about the true meaning of the day. The Daughters of the Revolution read each name from the monument as a Boy Scout rang a brass bell for each. The colors were then dipped and raised from half staff to the top of the pole. Taps sounded across the water. Just outside the harbor, a color guard slipped a wreath into the water on the outgoing tide. Oh yeah, it was a fine day here on the Atlantic ICW in a small town Norman Rockwell would have liked.


The picture is of the Fernandina Beach harbor. Tried to get a good one of the ceremony but my thumb got in the way.