Memorial Day Right Here at Home

The city has its quiet mornings where the birds sing and quiet footsteps make  their way along with the occasional car driving by. It's rush hour in other parts of the city though, and it's certain that the highways and congested areas are filled with cars, and people making their way to work or a desired destination. The loudness of the trash trucks have already left my immediate area.

However, this weekend is a busy one filled with many destinations to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend.  It is a considered a high holiday and kick off to summer and everything that the summer months may include. After the winter having a not so wintry freezing cold consisted temperatures the warm temperature is not such an extreme change. There were cold days here and there but not enough to hibernate indoors for weeks to avoid the freezing cold temperatures and surely not a slow down for city life. The city forecast changes with seasons and the residents also change with students and others moving in and moving out.  

New properties are purchased and new people are moving into the neighborhood. The colleges and students are shifted into their summer mode. Although, there is always a seriousness to business sectors no matter what season it may be, heated offices in the winter and cool central air in the summer allows "business as usual" to continue. There are battles at home and battles in foreign countries, domestic work and the military occupying foreign nations.   There have been  business's that have not been able to survive and fallen soldiers who have sacrificed their life in the face of war.  

This weekend is dedicated to those who have made decisions to serve our country and to remember those soldiers who have given their lives to our country. The Boston Common is filled with flags to pay respect to our fallen soldiers. This weekend here on Beacon Hill, a multitude of activities conincide with one another, and some fill the city with loud sounds and others are silent but are loud in sheer presence. 

This weekend, some of us are staying home and others have left or are going away. There are veterans that occupy our neighborhoods young and old, and I believe we should also acknowledge their presence in our neighborhood.  Paying tribute to veterans doesn't always require a ceremony and a simple conversation and listening to their stories is another way to pay respect. During my short time living here, I have encountered veterans just by sharing cordial greetings and some friendly conversation. The gleam in their eyes as they tell you their story is reason enough to listen and learn from their experience. 

It could be from past generations or this generation, war is war, a soldier is a soldier, despite any personal or political views one might have. It might seem like it's not a big deal but I think it makes a great impact. This is also a great opportunity to put those iPods, iPhones, or any other device which prevents any  random social encounters with neighbors or those who live around you.