Millstone Township’s annual Memorial Day parade had to be canceled this past Monday due to heavy rains. Nevertheless, many residents and township-based community organizations turned out to attend the memorial service and honors ceremony held at the Veterans Memorial as scheduled.

To the many citizens who braved the rain and either participated in or attended the memorial and honors ceremonies, I’d like to say: Thank you. You’ve done us great honor. Your children have learned a valuable lesson this Memorial Day about community values and patriotism here in America. The 100 or so signatures and patriotic notes penned by children on a "We Support Our Troops" flag, which will be sent to an Army brigade unit currently serving in Iraq, bear that out.

To the many military veterans and National Guardsmen who stood there in the rain to help conduct the honors ceremony to our fallen comrades, I simply say: Thank you. No more words are needed or expected.

To the many people of Millstone who got ready for the Memorial Day parade by building a float, polishing vehicles, organizing marchers and color guards, preparing to ride their horses, play in the school band, or just getting their kids ready to come out to watch the parade, I’d like to say: Thank You. The heavy rains and last-minute cancellation of the parade sure put a damper on what looked to be an otherwise great turnout by Millstone’s residents, judging by the many parade forms and inquiries received in eager anticipation of Millstone’s second annual Memorial Day parade.

In the days preceding Memorial Day, a reporter for a statewide newspaper publication asked me to comment about how I, as a Vietnam-era veteran, felt about many Americans not recognizing and appreciating the true meaning and purpose of Memorial Day. He asked me to comment about how I felt about people making barbecues, going shopping or to the Shore instead of attending a Memorial Day parade and ceremony. Well, since my admitted initial apathy to the somewhat leading question, (except for not dishonoring the meaning and importance of Memorial Day by making people work or go to school), I’ve given the matter much thought.

Yes, to many of us, Memorial Day weekend does mean store sales, family barbecues, opening a summer residence or weekend retreat, putting a boat in the water down at the Shore, or many other leisure activities. That’s America! There’s no dictatorship government forcing you to attend a national patriotic event. Those of us who’ve served overseas in third-world occupied countries, and who’ve fought for and defended the liberties and freedom of others, realize that just being able to travel from one state or province to another without having to show papers or be stopped by an armed uniformed soldier, is a freedom that too many of us take for granted. Lately, it is a freedom that another enemy, radical terrorists, would look to exploit and use as a means to conquer or to destroy us. It is a freedom that now must be well guarded. So, when I see people all across America celebrating and enjoying their freedoms on Memorial Day, I think of the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who’ve come before me. I see the soldiers still listed as missing in action. I see my friends and comrades who fought bravely, and who died defending the rights of others. Many more are dying still. I look around me and I see their service, and their lives were not in vain.

So long as there is one U.S. military veteran left standing, there will be an honor guard detail and a salute at our town’s Veterans Memorial on Memorial Day — come rain or shine. When we veterans are no more, another U.S. soldier will be there to take our place. God willing.

Those who serve in our military and in homeland defense departments today are defending something that’s already been paid for and that’s priceless. So, the next time you see a military veteran or a soldier in uniform doing his or her job, please just go over and say: Thank you. And, go on celebrating freedom here in America.

Richard D. Brody

Vice Chairman

Millstone Township Veterans Memorial Council

Parade and Ceremonies Chairman