Memorial Day means parades, wreathes laid on granite stone, and bugles playing in the distance. It’s a time when service men and women are on display in their communities and politicians come out to pay their respects.
“We live in the greatest country on earth but its greatness is forged through sacrifice,” Congresswoman Anne McLane Kuster told assembled veterans and parade-goers in Concord this morning. “May we honor and celebrate our soldiers, our sailors and our airmen.”
Kuster spoke to a crowd assembled in Concord, while Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter spoke in Manchester. Senator Kelly Ayotte was observing the Ukranian election, and sent a recorded Memorial Day message back to her home state.
Concord Mayor Jim Boulay was on hand in Concord to remind those assembled what the holiday is all about.
“Too many think of memorial day as a federal holiday, when people have they day off to barbeque, to go to the beach or to travel,” he said, “but in fact Memorial Day – or as my grandmother used to say decoration day – is an occasion where we’d stand together to remember and cherish those who died for their country in the US armed forces.”
The rain held off in most places, and events were held in dozens of cities and towns all over the Granite State.
