The Town of Needham has a long history of showing the utmost respect to its veterans and Monday's Memorial Day ceremonies were no exception.
Organized by the Needham Exchange Club, the Town first marked the day at the Police and Fire Stations with special services. For the remainder of the morning, flags were raised and wreaths placed at various locations throughout Needham, including Needham Cemetery.
It was at the cemetery that Town officials and Needham veterans gathered to honor hose who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving this nation......
Upon gathering at the Common, the American flag was raised and notes from the National Anthem were again heard drifting through the air. The reflective mood was added to through Selectman Denise Garlick's reading of the Mary Elizabeth Frye poem, "Do Not Stand by My Grave and Weep."
"Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep," she stated. "I am the American flag that snaps in the wind. I am the anthem that rings out in the schoolroom, the Town Meeting, the ballpark."
Garlick also reiterated earlier points that Memorial Day does not represent a day off from work, but rather a deep appreciation for lives lost in combat.
"What truly matters is that we know and understand the meaning of this great sacrifice, and that we honor the lives of these Needham servicemen and women, all servicemen and women, through our daily actions," she said. "Pause for a moment, yes, but live so that daily we earn, value and honor all that these lives have sacrificed to preserve, promote and protect. Our soldiers do not truly die, but live on in us."
Read the whole article here. Story by Greg Abazorias.
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