Memorial Day is a solemn holiday, a sacred day of remembrance to honor those who paid the ultimate price for our freedoms. Parades honor the fallen. We take a moment of silence. We place wreaths at veterans’ graves and at monuments. We watch as veterans march in our local Memorial Day parades, and we pay tribute to our great nation, America.

I am a proud Gold Star Mother of U.S. Army Capt. Christopher S. Cash, and the Gold Star Chaplain of Kennebec Chapter of Maine. Our goal is to assist our veterans in many ways and to lend support through our Gold Star Mother’s organization every single day.

I am blessed to have a friend of mine, Laurie Sidelinger, the chairperson of Honor Flight Maine, come to our Memorial Day parade and be our guest speaker. I also will have Wreaths Across America represented this year as we all pay tribute to the fallen heroes of America in supportive roles. We will march and hold Old Glory high, and we will REMEMBER.

Every day, we enjoy the blessings of living in our great nation. Those blessings come to us at a high cost. On this Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, 2016, let us all respectfully remember them with honor and love.

With respect and honor to all of our veterans,

Nancy Lee Kelley
Old Orchard Beach