”I Came Back, They Didn’t”
Ask veterans who march in the parades and stand silently, heads bowed, before war memorials. On Memorial Day, this is what they’ll say: “I came back. They didn’t.”
Memorial Day’s purpose is to solemnly honor and mourn those who didn’t come back. Veterans Day (November 11) and Armed Services Day (3rd Saturday in May) are designated, respectively, to honor those who have served, or currently serve, in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Although the pandemic has once again interfered with Ridgefield’s iconic Memorial Day Parade, the pause may enable a more thoughtful focus on the day’s true meaning.