A Memorial Day Message from ALSM’s President & CEO
As we move forward to the start of the summer season with the celebration Memorial Day, I thought it may be appropriate to reflect on the facts and traditions of this holiday.
First, I want to let you know vaccines have been offered and many folks have been getting them. We continue to abide by directives of our regulating bodies. We continue to educate about the vaccine so that at some point we can get back to some level of normalcy. We also continue to do testing according to the positivity rate in the respective counties.
As for the Memorial Day holiday, as you know, this day was created to honor the American men and women who died in military service.
In Flanders Field is a reflection of this holiday, as poppies are often associated with this celebration. While it stands as the transition between the transition between the struggle of death and the peace of death, it speaks of sacrifice and serves as the soldier’s command to the living to press on. In this regard, I will draw a comparison with the heroes of war and the health care heroes as well as all of the heroes who have and continue to endure the COVID pandemic.
In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row.
That marks our place, and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce hard amid the guns below.
We are the dead. Short days so
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow.
Loved and were loved, and now we lie.
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch: be yours to hold it high
If we break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Let us salute and honor our military heroes but also let us salute and honor all of those who have cared for those who are vulnerable and those persons who departed during this horrific experience. May we never experience such a trauma again in our lives.
Stay safe.
In service,
Patricia W. Savage
President/CEO
