Memorial Day is not a day designed to make me happy. But it was a day that did make me happy in so many ways, in spite of being set aside as a day to remember all those men and women who have died for the nation in protecting the freedom we enjoy today and every day.
Among the many things that did make me happy was the sight of the American flag. In so many places, sizes, creating such a striking reminder of the red, white and blue and what those colors and 50 stars really stand for.
It made me happy to see the front of Ptak Tower in Highlands lined with American flags, whether as a reminder of the Highlands youth who lost his life in Vietnam and for whom the building is named, or for the veterans living and enjoying life in that building along Shore Drive.
It made me happy, as always, to see the American flag flying at the Highlands Elementary School. At a height overlooking much of the town and so visible to the thousands who travel past it on Route 36, it’s wonderful to see how Dr. Jacoutot, the principal and his staff, not only respect that flag, but the staff teaches the students about it, and the employees do their best to keep it at the right height for all occasions.
It made me happy to see the flags flying along Memorial Parkway in Atlantic Highlands, albeit fewer every year since some flagpoles have come down after accidents along the state highway.
It makes me happy to see the bulletin board in front of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church, always with a clever and thought provocative message, to remind passersby this week that “the flag does not fly because of the wind, it flies because of the last breath of every soldier.”
It made me happy to hear the pastor, Father Jarlath, offer the mass of the day for all the deceased men and women of the armed services, as well as those still living and helping maintain the nation’s freedom.
It also makes me happy to see how many homes and gardens fly the American flag daily, but over Memorial Day, there were ever so many more.
The ladies that walked up and down First Avenue or were present at the Memorial Park across from Borough Hall in Atlantic Highlands before and during the parade not only handed out American flags but also poppies, a reminder of all those killed at Flanders Field in Europe during the first World War.
Hopefully, on D Day, the Sixth of June, there were be just as many flags flying to remind Americans and visitors that more than 10,000 Allied troops were killed during that invasion in World War II, more than 2500 of them at Normandy Beach alone.
The day is a day of memory, in spite of also being the unofficial beginning of summer, a time to party, bring out the grill and look forward to vacation days and wide-open beaches. But if it is observed as a day when we truly remember all those who fought so that today, in 2025, and every day forward, we can live to enjoy it, than it’s ok to be happy on Memorial Day.
