Peaceful Memorial Day

Because my mom is there, I spend some time at the Gulf Cemetery. It's a peaceful place of course; unpretentious and rough like the Florida coastline it sits on. On Memorial Day the cemetery does witness for the fallen. This year, the cemetery's centennial, was even more special. We stood with a few hundred local soul gathered to pay tribute to our vets, celebrate the centennial of the cemetery and unveil a historic marker. It was so good to be there. Made me, once again, appreciate our Santa Rosa Beach. For all it's grand beach homes and market branding, at it's heart, SRB is still just a sandy little beach town on the Gulf of Mexico. The ceremony was sweet. The audience was attentive as the girls and boys of the color guard brought in the flag, their youth reflecting the future. A lone the piper played Amazing Grace thanking God for forgiveness. Each honorable speaker, who will always remember, spoke mindful words straight from the heart. Everyone singing patriotic songs and bowing heads in prayer provided common cause and tradition. A perfectly timed, picture perfect fly-over took your eyes to the clear blue sky; the fighter pilots, the soldiers roll call and the mournful melody of taps reminded us all of why we gathered. This remembrance was a perfect way to begin the day. My thanks go to the many volunteers. Well done.

 

Oh, and afterwards everyone had time for a beautiful day at the beach and a BBQ. Thank you vets.