Memorial Day drew a lot more attention this year

Memorial Day seemed to have a lot more meaning this year.  Nothing specific, but, in general, people seemed more aware of the fact that Monday was a day to remember the troops who have fought to make and keep this country free.

Yes, many stores conducted their “Memorial Day Sales.”  But fewer than I had remembered.  And more tributes to soldiers were broadcast on TV – at least it appeared that way. I think there were even fewer cookouts.

I have noticed, and I’ve been told by friends whose relatives were assigned to the front line in war time, that in recent years, interest in both Memorial Day and Veterans Day had been declining. Parades and ceremonies seemed to be drawing fewer people.

Not so this year.  There were many people at both the Boca Raton remembrance at the Boca Raton Cemetery and in West Boca, at Veterans Park.  (By the way, because of a deadline situation, we were only able to run the West Boca Memorial Day pictures in this edition. We will feature Boca’s event next week.)

I think it’s wonderful to remember the soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice, but also to praise and thank those who fought and were able to return.  Not all of them came back intact.  And even years after World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam, many one-time soldiers are still haunted by the memories of the battlefield.

One key to the increased attention to Memorial Day has got to be the fact that the United States is involved in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Yes, fighting continues in Iraq, even thought the United States has supposedly terminated its direct involvement.

Afghanistan continues to take its toll.  And terrorists continue to take the lives of our fighting men and women with horrible weapons that kill and maim.

Thoughts of those who fight to keep America free were also ramped up just last month when American troops located and killed Osama bin Laden.  For several days, TV and other media again showed the images of the 9/11 attacks on America, the burning Twin Towers, the wrecked Pentagon, the sad field in Pennsylvania where Flight 93 was brought down by civilians suddenly thrust into the roles of terror fighters, who gave their lives in a solid showing of support for the USA.

With all of these recent reminders, how could we let Memorial Day go by without sorrowful thoughts?

Dale King, the managing editor of the Tribune, told me that he and his father used to spend Memorial Day mornings visiting the cemetery where his dad’s family is buried – and where his father and mother now rest in peace.  He said they would join a crowd behind a priest who would lead the group through the cemetery and say the Rosary as they walked.  It’s something he said he still misses to this day.

I love my native country of Brazil.  But I have made the decision to come to America to raise a family, to run my business and to contribute to this nation, and, through civic groups, to help the world. I have long been associated with Rotary, a group that contributes on an international scale.

The world has become a smaller place.  And every country has its own way of paying tribute to its soldiers who fought in their battles.

Americans have unique days of remembrance like Memorial Day and Veterans Day.  I pray that someday there will be no more wars, but those who continue to lay down their lives for that cause must never be forgotten.