Om Memorial Day, I attended the Memorial Day veterans ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in downtown Renton. First I would like to thank the City of Renton, Mayor Denis Law and council members Greg Taylor and King Parker for their attendance. Also I would like to offer a thank you to the volunteers and speakers who were in attendance as well as the small crowd of local citizens.

One of the speakers, a VFW leader, gave the following speech which I found to be immensely inspiring.

“Good Afternoon, to all who have attended this service. And, thank you to Mayor Law and the city workers for providing this Memorial Day event!

Memorial Day, it’s not for the dead HEROES of this country, but for the living. Those people who know what FREEDOM means in a Great Nation. Like all of you, in the audience, and all the people who have worked to make this Renton Memorial Park, and all the Memorial Day services, come together in this Great Nation.

Memorial Day was not declared a national Holiday for Americans to have the day off from work with pay. It was not declared a Holiday to go to the beach or have a family picnic. Memorial Day was dedicated for Americans of this nation to pay respect to all those that have gone before to give Americans freedom

It has been said, “If you like your FREEDOM, thank a veteran.” It is my hope that we will never take our freedoms for granted and we remember all the sacrifices made by the brave men and women in the Armed Services for those freedoms.

I found these words to be humbling as well as inspiring. Thank you to all those who have served and presently are serving to secure and maintain the freedoms we hold most dear.

Gil Schoos

Renton