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I believe that this was the finest Memorial Day Service in my memory. Attendance was good and many of our friends were there to give tribute: Jack, Loretta, Doris, Mary P, John, Sam, Barbara Jean and Helen to name a few. There was nothing political about it--we were all there for one purpose--to honor all of those who sacrificed so much for the United States of America and all the freedoms we hold so dear. Joe Matthews' speech was one of the best ever and because of it, I am sure that our Commission will do everything possible to honor our Veterans with a parade on November 11.
Mayor Pam Triolo's speech was short and to the point and well said:
Thank you. It is an honor to be here today to remember all the courageous souls who've sacrificed everything to keep our country safe and secure and to protect the freedoms that make America the amazing country it is.
I was asked today to talk about what Memorial Day means to me. As a child, like many of you scouts, I remember the day off from school, and gathering of family and friends. While my cousins and I were carefree and at play, many of the men would join together and share stories of their time of duty and the loss of friends they loved. Mr. Giordano was like a grandfather to me who often spoke of storming the beach at Normandy and the terror of seeing his fellow servicemen die right in front of him as he barely made it to safety.
My father was part of the last draft before the Vietnam war. He was in the 3rd Infantry Division, 7th Infantry Regiment. It was the first time they drafted an entire division at the same time, accelerating the training in Ft. Benning by 1/3 to send them during Cold War time to Germany as things were tense in Europe, as he always told me. He remembered being stationed in existing German WWII barracks with tile floors, a detail he always mentioned. His mission was called operation Gyroscope and his division was to replace the 10th Mountain Division. As a weapons specialist, my Dad and his Division were sent to the Czechloslovakian border and were face to face with Russian forces. Fortunately for my family, they didn't attack. As my dad says "they had superior numbers to us and gratefully didn't attack or we would have been wiped out within a week.
On this day we remember those brave women and men who weren't as lucky. Please always remember that freedom isn't free. From the American Revolution to the Wars on Terrorism, one million American men and women have made the supreme sacrifice so we can enjoy life as we know it. They've left mothers and fathers, sisters brothers, husbands, wives and children in the name of freedom, never to come home again. To the men and women who have so bravely given their lives for us, to those who have served or are serving proudly and to their families and loved ones who have lost or worry every day in the name of freedom...
Thank you for your sacrifices and on behalf of my family and the City of Lake Worth, God bless you all and God bless America!
I was asked today to talk about what Memorial Day means to me. As a child, like many of you scouts, I remember the day off from school, and gathering of family and friends. While my cousins and I were carefree and at play, many of the men would join together and share stories of their time of duty and the loss of friends they loved. Mr. Giordano was like a grandfather to me who often spoke of storming the beach at Normandy and the terror of seeing his fellow servicemen die right in front of him as he barely made it to safety.
My father was part of the last draft before the Vietnam war. He was in the 3rd Infantry Division, 7th Infantry Regiment. It was the first time they drafted an entire division at the same time, accelerating the training in Ft. Benning by 1/3 to send them during Cold War time to Germany as things were tense in Europe, as he always told me. He remembered being stationed in existing German WWII barracks with tile floors, a detail he always mentioned. His mission was called operation Gyroscope and his division was to replace the 10th Mountain Division. As a weapons specialist, my Dad and his Division were sent to the Czechloslovakian border and were face to face with Russian forces. Fortunately for my family, they didn't attack. As my dad says "they had superior numbers to us and gratefully didn't attack or we would have been wiped out within a week.
On this day we remember those brave women and men who weren't as lucky. Please always remember that freedom isn't free. From the American Revolution to the Wars on Terrorism, one million American men and women have made the supreme sacrifice so we can enjoy life as we know it. They've left mothers and fathers, sisters brothers, husbands, wives and children in the name of freedom, never to come home again. To the men and women who have so bravely given their lives for us, to those who have served or are serving proudly and to their families and loved ones who have lost or worry every day in the name of freedom...
Thank you for your sacrifices and on behalf of my family and the City of Lake Worth, God bless you all and God bless America!
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