Town of Boston

Memorial Day
2020

Paying Tribute to the Soldiers We Lost in Battle

By David J. Shenk, Commander from 1996-2019 of the former CPL. David Finger VFW Post 2556 in North Boston

This year’s celebration of Memorial Day will not be celebrated with the traditional parades and gatherings that normally take place at memorial sites across the country. Those events are usually followed by large crowds of people gathering at local American Legion, VFW, and AmVet posts. Instead the American people, as well as most of the world population, are facing an enemy that has killed more people than the entire death toll of some of our military conflicts.

With the outbreak of COVID19, we have been asked to not gather in groups, to practice social distancing and to wear face masks whenever we are in public. Even so, this doesn’t mean we should treat Memorial Day as just another day of the long battle against the global pandemic.

Many Americans have forgotten the true meaning of this day that we as veterans hold so close to our hearts. On Memorial Day, we honor our fallen comrades of the United States military in the form of remembrance. With that comes a deep sense of appreciation for both their selflessness in protecting the land of the free, and for their sacrifice in ensuring it stays that way.

The idea of honoring our fallen comrades began after the Civil War. On May 5, 1868, Gen. John Logan called for a nationwide day of remembrance to take place on May 30 for what was first called “Decoration Day,” which gradually became known as Memorial Day, honoring those lost fighting battles during the Civil War. During World War I the holiday evolved to commemorate American military personnel who died in any war. As more wars expanded the list of those being honored, Memorial Day changed. Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act in 1968, establishing Memorial Day as the last Monday in May. That practice began in 1972 and the same law also annually declares Memorial Day as a federal holiday.

Freedom is not free. It comes at a high cost, specifically over 1.3 million people who have paid the ultimate price since the Revolutionary War. Each and every American citizen owes a great debt to the courageous men and women who have given their lives to protect our way of life.  While giving back to the extent they deserve is impossible, today, we merely attempt our repayment in the form of remembrance. We dedicate this day to them. 

So even as we face this viral enemy together, please take a moment to not only remember the sacrifices of our fallen and mourn their departure, but also celebrate the spirit with which they served and reflect upon their contributions in making America, truly, the land of the free.

“As I think of the Town of Boston today, Memorial Day will most certainly be acknowledged differently this year.  As a community, we are not able to gather for the parade and service to remember the military men and women who have lost their lives while serving this great country.

The Town Park and Boston Commons have been cared for by the Parks Department and Wreaths and Flags have been donated and placed at the memorials by the former members of VFW Post 2556.

I would encourage everyone to reflect on this day in a positive way.  The weather is supposed to be beautiful.  Spend time outside and perhaps visit these memorials.  This land that we stand on is free because of those that have paid with their ultimate sacrifice. Raise the American Flag in remembrance.

Sandra Quinlan
Town Clerk

Around Town

(Left) Local veterans decorate the CPL David Finger Memorial Flag Pole behind the Boston Town Hall for Memorial Day.

Boston Commons WWI, WWII, Korean, and Vietnam War monuments.

Monument at St. Johns Cemetery.

From the Website Editor: Unfortunately, we are facing unprecedented times and cannot bring you our annual Memorial Day services in person. I hope this web page will serve as an “in-place-of” service, until we can meet again next year to honor the fallen. I want to thank the Town Board, Town Clerk, and Mr. David Shenk for contributing pictures and passages for this year’s web-based service. Thank you to The Miller Center for their contribution of the April 28th, 1942 Fireside Chat audio. Thank you to resident Adrian Zannin for drone footage. I would also like to thank the local churches and emergency services for participating in the “Ring for Remembrance”. The most important part of Memorial Day, even through a global pandemic, is honoring those who gave the ultimate sacrifice. Thank you for taking the time to journey through our web-based service.