I received a posting from an online friend who expressed some concerns about Memorial Day. After having attended a local parade, I have mixed emotions myself.

"While I appreciate the efforts put in by local high school bands and several civic and scout groups to commemorate the holiday, I am continually disheartened by the many who use the day for personal gain, first and foremost the politicians who use this solemn day as a soap box for political gain.

I also am concerned about merchants who use it for a soapbox to push products. They have taken a day meant to honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to save and protect this great country of ours and turned it into a commercial for personal gain.

Anyone who wonders what is wrong with this country, they need only to attend one of these events to see what I mean."

I replied to my friend as follows:

"I agree with most of what you say and, yes, some national political folks sometimes even make inappropriate comments in their attempt to promote themselves or their agendas. The pendulum of overall civic behavior has swung in an uncomfortable direction over the years.

However, my sense is that smaller, hometown village parades and celebrations probably retain their historical traditions more firmly and without the political or commercial nonsense. I have seen this in Connecticut and Massachusetts and I hope it is true in some areas of Vermont, which is your turf.

I live in such a village in Connecticut, with a population of 1,500 residents, one package store, one church, one graveyard, one historical society, one water department plus a volunteer fire department with two engines and one rescue truck.

We just finished our annual parade through the village today with stops at the cemetery and local war memorial to honor the fallen. Our parade is organized by the local American Legion, which also provides a picnic benefit at the end in which locals can have lunch and visit with each other. Certain local politicians do participate by invitation, but they do not try to take advantage of the event and there is no hint of commercialism.

I feel proud to march in such a parade, even though the event itself requires time and energy for many of us and my 78-year-old knees complain to me afterwards. But I wouldn’t change anything, and hope this spirit might, in time, help swing the pendulum back again."

Ed Johnson lives in Noank.