Bloomfield, Connecticut May 26, 2014.

Farmington High School Marching Band, Farmington,CT.

Veterans Cemetery Manchester, CT.

Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett 

Across the country Americans took time yesterday to honor those in the United States Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice. In small towns and big cities people gathered for Memorial Day parades, wreath presentations at cemeteries and monuments, the singing of the ” Star Spangled Banner” and for speeches.

From the smallest ceremonies to the biggest the message was the same – remember with gratitude. It was repeated from one town to the next – along with scenes such as  high school bands playing patriotic songs,  police and firefighter color guards, boy scouts and girls scouts, old soldiers riding in cars while their younger counterparts marched, gun salutes and the haunting sound of Taps.

Indeed, from town to town the message was the same – America is the “Home of the Free Because of the Brave.”

Memorial Day 2014 ‘Anytown’, U.S.A.

Singing the national anthem.