A time for memories and for appreciation
Memorial Day holiday is next Monday.
It’s a time to pause and remember those people who have died, and, in particular, a time for Americans to honor the men and women who served their country.
On Sunday afternoon, members of the Tonganoxie Veterans of Foreign Wars post will conduct a Memorial Day ceremony. The annual event will be held at VFW Park.
And while Memorial Day is the time to remember those who have died, perhaps this Memorial Day would be a good opportunity to take note of those members of the local VFW who do so much for our community.
These members carefully tend to the VFW Park. They mow. They pick up trash. And they even clean the bathrooms.
These post members ensure that American flags line Fourth Street on Memorial Day, and many other holidays through the year.
When a veteran dies, these VFW members erect flags along Fourth Street. And they put up an avenue of flags at the cemetery with the flag at the main entrance flying at half-staff.
Sometimes, a VFW member can be spotted replacing worn flags at the Tonganoxie post office.
The members decorate VFW Park at Christmas braving December’s chill to weave lights through the mayor’s tree and wrap decorations around fencing.
Between now and May 31, the display case at First State Bank and Trust’s downtown offices will focus on some of the contributions of local veterans, both in Tonganoxie and on battlefields. It’s a fascinating gathering of memorabilia, along with newspaper stories, starting with World War I.
So as we reflect on the lives of those men and women who died for their country, it’s appropriate, to thank the members of the Tonganoxie VFW and its auxiliary who work nearly every day to make our city a better place.