Memorial Day commemorations convey spirit of America

This weekend is part of one of my favorite holidays. In many places, Memorial Day weekend has been hijacked to celebrate the kickoff of summer. Memorial Day should not be celebrated, but rather commemorated. Memorial Day can represent so much of the American small-town spirit.Several communities where I used to live in Michigan had Memorial Day parades. The largest parade was filled with floats and politicians and clowns (sometimes disguised as politicians). The smaller communities respected the nature of the holiday: Only veterans were permitted to march, accompanied by the local high school band. In one community, as the parade passed, the townsfolk applauded and fell in step behind the veterans to witness a somber ceremony in the local cemetery. A picnic was then hosted by the local government. Those events, in my mind, highlight what is great in our small towns — a strong sense of community spirit and national service.I went through basic training in 1982 as part of an Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at Fort Knox, Ky. I enjoyed the physical and mental challenges, but due to some logistical issues, I was not able to make a commitment to the Army at that time. Five years later, when I decided to pursue a graduate degree, I wondered what it would have been like to continue with the Army. I began my formal ROTC training as a graduate student in 1987.I received my commission as a second lieutenant in the infantry in December 1989. My entire family at some point had worked for the defense industry, but I was the first one to actually serve in the military. After obtaining my master’s degree in April 1990 and getting married in June 1990, I was called to active duty one month earlier than anticipated due to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. My wife and I headed south to Fort Benning, Ga., in September.Due to the increased possibility of war in the Gulf, the training took on an increased intensity. At the time, a likely scenario contemplated house-to-house fighting in Kuwait City. Urban fighting typically incurs more casualties, especially for second lieutenants. We trained through the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. I still vividly recall sitting in the kitchen eating dinner and hearing Tom Brokaw announce that the air war had begun. It was a difficult night.Fortunately, the First Gulf War began and ended before I completed my training in February. I completed some additional instruction in Georgia before I was deployed to Schweinfurt, Germany. I had many interesting challenges while in Europe, but I also had many wonderful opportunities. I left the service and returned to the United States on June 7, 1994.I was now a veteran, which, at that time, was somewhat rare for someone of my generation.  I have been a member of the American Legion for 12 years. I have shared military memories with naval veterans in Lexington, Mich. (my first municipal job), with fellow Army soldiers in Linden, Air Force veterans in Davison, and now, some Marines here in Winchester. Veterans are most everywhere, proud — and typically humble — of their service.I look forward to my first Memorial Day here in Winchester, especially with the community’s rich Civil War experiences. A dedicated group of volunteers continues to work to acquire funds to properly restore the town’s magnificent Civil War monument. I am sure that a quiet walk through one of the area cemeteries would reveal the graves of veterans from all of our nation’s conflicts.A recent memory of mine is a trip to Washington, D.C., and Arlington National Cemetery over Veterans Day a few years ago. It was a moving experience just to walk the grounds of Arlington. Please remember and honor those interred at Arlington and at cemeteries here and abroad that died in service to this country. Finally, like changing the batteries in your smoke detectors when adjusting your clocks, do something small, but respectful, each Memorial Day: Replace your worn flag with a crisp new star-spangled banner. Then you can enjoy every remaining day of your summer — something those we are to remember can’t do. Dale Martin is the town manager of Winsted.