The evidence of heart in our small towns

There was a quote by Bob Estabrook, this newspaper’s editor-and-publisher emeritus and a veteran himself, on the front page of last week’s Lakeville Journal. He said, “The heart of a small town is most evident on Memorial Day.”Estabrook made this comment on the fly, while stepping into The Lakeville Journal building the week before Memorial Day to pick up some papers. The people in the newsroom were discussing plans to cover the commemorative ceremonies in each of the Northwest Corner towns; it’s a day that challenges a small staff to be in all our towns at essentially the same time. Bob took pleasure in hearing the buzz, made his quick contribution and took his leave. But as he is inclined to do, he caught the spirit of so much that is moving about Memorial Day in just a few words.The area ceremonies honoring veterans and the fallen on Memorial Day do reveal the heart of each town: the families and friends who have lost loved ones, those who have served, the children who remind us why we hold the universal values in evidence on this day so dearly, all gather together and remember sacrifices made in the past and the sacrifices of those now serving in the military. The pages of this newspaper reflect the Memorial Day observances in each town. Be sure to take a look through and to go to www.tricornernews.com to see more photographs of every town’s parade and ceremonies. Taking a look at all the towns around yours, you’ll see that while each has its own identity, there are many ways in which they are the same. Each commemoration, though, truly captures the heart of its town, as Bob noted so eloquently. Thank you to all who have served and are serving in the military, and thank you to all who organize the Memorial Day ceremonies every year in their towns, inspiring and touching the hearts and souls of their fellow citizens.