Memorial day

"The Settlement"...that is what they call Bryn Athyn.  It is a beautiful borough with rolling hills, private schools and of course, the Cathedral.  What folks might miss is the small Military Memorial Garden tucked quietly along side the church grounds.  There have been many soldiers and patriots in this community as evidenced by the placards displaying their names, but one stands alone, under it's own name shaded by a beautiful tree too recently planted.  I visited there yesterday, Sunday as Monday there will be a church service on the lawn in front of the fallen but I am not from here, I do not belong to their church and our Grandmother's did not attend primary school together so I would not presume to join them.

One of the most touching moments I have experienced in this community is the day they brought this soldier home,  the young man with his own memorial.  I was driving in from my day and along every street into Bryn Athyn were her citizenry.  Young, old - on shoulders, in lawn chairs, sprawled out on blankets, each with an American flag.  I thought certain it was a children's parade, or a tribute to our local fire and police department but it was not. It was a homecoming. Every person waiting patiently to stand as the hearse went by on it's way to the service for their young hero. I don't know him, but am told he was a wonderful man, loved serving his country and was a volunteer fireman and that on the turnpike bridges from Maryland to Pennsylvania where he maid his last journey home, there was Fire Company honoring his way.  I wish I had a photo of that day, but I have the picture in my head just the same and thought I would share this small story with you. 

I put two small American flags at the Memorial Garden, one for the many, and one for the boy who paid the highest price to be called American.  God Bless our troops.
Katie