Standing side-by-side in the sweet spring grass that blankets cemeteries like quilts, sometimes with wispy morning fog still present, the sound of brass instruments will ring out in the the air to mourners with a familiar yet somber tune – the sound of a memorial service taps. 

This Monday, thousands of people will gather at various locations around the county to come together to honor the lives of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, lived the lives characterized by a true sense of duty and direction, and thank them hand-in-hand in the human way we know possible – together.

Thank you to the many organizations and municipalities who put together these memorial services, parades and cemetery clean-ups. The global commitment to remember our honored deceased is made even more possible with the work put in to make recurring events possible.

And while we salute all who have and are serving, as a reminder, Veterans Day is for those still with us. We salute them, and to those who have served and/or continuing to serve, we take this moment to personally extend our gratitude and say thank you. But Memorial Day is not for the living. It is for those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

If you have a loved one who served in our Armed Forces and has now since passed, our hearts are with you and your family. Memorial Day can be an emotionally challenging day for many throughout our nation, as so many individuals and families have ties with the Armed Forces, and we hope this day of remembrance brings only comforting thoughts and cherished memories.

For the list of featured Memorial Day services happening around Sullivan County, please see page 1 of this edition of the Sullivan County Democrat. Even if you did not know any fallen Veteran personally, the community stands stronger by your presence alone. 

Let the trumpets lead you back to the place where heroes lie.