In memory, in gratitude
As many of us gear up for the three-day weekend ahead, let us remember, if only for a moment, the sacrifice behind our Monday holiday.
Memorial Day says to those who served and did not come home, you are remembered, you are missed.
Memorial Day says to the families of the fallen, we, as a country, share your loss, we are grateful.
We are eternally grateful.
As always here in veteran-rich Lee County, there are a number of ways to honor those who served, this year again including two major Memorial Day services that annually attract hundreds to mark Monday’s solemn holiday and another couple of special note:
In Cape Coral, the largest of the services will be at Coral Ridge Funeral Home and Cemetery, which will hold its 44th annual Memorial Day service at 10 a.m. on May 26, in the Veterans Honor Garden at 950 Chiquita Blvd., S.
The event is free and open to the public.
Across the river, Memorial Gardens Funeral Home and Cemetery in Fort Myers also will hold its annual Memorial Day service on Monday.
The service honoring local and national heroes will take place at the Field of Honor beginning at 9:30 a.m. at 1589 Colonial Blvd.
Both events will feature various speakers and activities appropriate for the one day America remembers its war dead.
Let us also highlight a dual event this year.
A special tribute to those who served on the USS Nimitz will be held here in Cape Coral on Monday.
The open-to-the-public event will take place at Brotherhood of Heroes Military Museum & Library and will honor those who died aboard the ship that suffered a flight deck fire that resulted in 14 deaths. Forty-nine sailors were injured.
The remembrance will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Brotherhood of Heroes Military Museum & Library, meanwhile, will hold a cookout with free hamburgers and hot dogs, with ice cream to be provided by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The veterans resource center is at 4522 Del Prado Blvd.
And one more: American Legion Post 90 at 1401 S.E. 47th St. in Cape Coral invites the public to join them for a Memorial Day “Everlasting” ceremony at noon on Monday, May 26.
After the ceremony free hot dogs and hamburgers will be served.
More details on these Memorial Day activities and more may be found in today’s Breeze or on-line at capecoralbreeze.com.
We thank those who serve.
We thank the families of the fallen. Such sacrifices should not, will not, go unmarked.
— Eagle editorial