Memorial Day Ritual

by Gwyn McAllister

Teaser

Parades, ceremonies and flower strewn waters commemorate our war casualties.

It’s a Memorial Day weekend tradition, and just like the heat wave we experienced on Friday, it catches most of us pleasantly off guard each year, and puts everybody in a summer state of mind.

Both the Edgartown and Tisbury Schools let out early on Friday and the students paraded down their respective Main Streets bearing flowers. As they do every year, people spontaneously ran out of shops and other businesses, catching a bit of the “school’s out” spirit, and followed the marchers to the water.

In Tisbury, the kids from all grades were led to Owen Park by the marching band. They walked to the end of the pier and threw their flowers into the ocean as a tribute to those who died in wars.

The ceremony that followed included an Honor Guard made up of veterans of every war since World War II. Eighth grader Ashley Cafarelli belted out the National Anthem, impressing the crowd with her incredible range.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, the kids scattered in every direction, thrilled with the unseasonably hot weather and the promise of a long weekend. I’m sure more than a few followed the flowers into the sea for another summer ritual - the first swim.