MEMORIAL DAY

When most people think of Memorial Day Weekend, they think of the start of summer. I myself have headed to the lake. We put in the dock today. The hoist. The boat. We helped our neighbors do the same. It is a tradition. One I truly enjoy. But that is not what Memorial Day is all about.

As a child and through my teens, I spent my summers in Lake George at Camp Chingachgook. We had lots of traditions. There is an enormous amount of history there. I enjoyed it there more than anyplace in the world. Even today, I will often reflect my time there.

Many of the traditions were set in place by the Native American history that touched the land. Like the name of the camp, CHINGACHGOOK many of the names given to things such as cabins or boats were Indian names. UNCUS I remember was one of the Boston Whalers we used to water ski behind. The legend of the H-Man, a tale we told around the camp fire.

But also, since the camp at one point had been a Boy Scout camp, we took on many of their traditions as well. Revelry blew every morning. We learned not to sleep in pj's but shorts and t-shirts as were were to run to the flag pole, make sure every one was present and accounted for, then did our morning exercises. Every day. We raised the flag every morning. Lowered it every night. We learned how to treat our flag. How to fold it. How to take care of it. And then, at the very end of the day, Taps would blow. All lights were turned off and we sat in our cabins, silent. We always waited a moment or two after before finishing getting ready for bed.

If we were at some activity, like a late night camp fire, we would sing Taps. It's a very touching thing. At least it was for me. It meant something, and even if at the time I did not fully comprehend what it meant, I felt it deep in my heart. I still do.

Monday is not really the beginning of summer. Its a day we need to stop and remember the fallen heroes who protected this nation. Who protected each and everyone of us. Even if you don't go to the parade, or visit a fallen heroes grave, stop, just for a moment, and remember them. Thank them. Thank all who has served. Thank those who will serve. They are all our heroes.

Thank you.