FARMINGTON — Ceremonies were held at the Teague World War I Memorial Arch on Upper Main Street and at Meetinghouse Park on Memorial Day to remember area veterans – especially those who did not return from service to their country.

A color guard from Roderick-Crosby American Legion Post 28 presented the American flag at both services while members of Boy Scout Troop 546 and Cub Scout Pack 585 assisted with the placement of wreaths.

“Memorial Day is more than a long weekend,” Farmington Police Chief Kenneth Charles said at the arch. “It is a solemn reminder of the cost of freedom, paid by generations of American heroes – from the fields of Gettysburg to the beaches of Normandy, from the hills of Korea to the jungles of Vietnam, and to the deserts of the Middle East. Among those lost, we owe a special debt of gratitude to friends and neighbors, strangers and family who have left our town, region, and state in service to others, never to return.”

Charles reflected on those who served in Vietnam, stating, “Many of whom returned home to a country struggling to understand the war they fought in. Their courage, sacrifice, and resilience deserve our deepest respect and remembrance. For those who never came home, we honor their memory. For those who did, we thank them and acknowledge the burdens they carried long after the war ended.”

Remember freedoms today were secured by those willing to risk everything, Charles said. “Let us live in a way that honors their legacy – with gratitude, unity, and a continued commitment to the values they fought to protect,” he added.

At Meetinghouse Park, Stephan Bunker, first vice commander Post 28 said for many Americans the last Monday in May marks the unofficial start of summer. “For those who served in the military, Memorial Day holds a greater significance as it commemorates the brave men and women who lost their lives defending our great nation,” he stressed.

Unique themes lie at the military’s core, Bunker noted. “The selfless desire to serve and the willingness to sacrifice to defend our nation,” he said. “The origin of Memorial Day, first observed over 155 years ago and then known as Decoration Day, was to beautify the graves in memory of those who fought and died to preserve our nation during the Civil War.”

This is a day for both grief and celebration, reflecting on the tragic loss of life and recounting the courageousness of their service, Bunker stated. “The respect and admiration we give our fallen pay tribute to their memory and the lives they lived,” he said. “To truly honor their lives we must share their stories with others and ensure their memories live on even though they are gone.”

In the days to come, all must act, Bunker stressed. “Let’s carry their sacrifice with us in our hearts and strive to honor their memory by being good and faithful, hopeful and strong, and committed to building a brighter future for all,” he said. “Duty, honor, country – they lived for it. And they died for it. As a nation, we must remind ourselves of the future they fought for and do our best to live up to those values in the days ahead.”