memorial day weekend part iii: close to home

After two days of Stack-Up events for the Memorial Day weekend, on the actual Memorial Day holiday itself, we went to the Jamaica Estates gatehouse for its annual rememberance event.

The gatehouse -- so called because it was originally a literal gatehouse guarding the entrance to Jamaica Estates, the structure is now (and has been since before my childhood) a memorial to the Jamaica Estates residents who gave their lives in World War II.

Ed Toriello, the President of the Jamaica Estates Association, opened with a touching, poignant speech about the dedication shown by our military personnel -- ready to give their lives for the good of their country. This speech was the best of Ed. After that, a dozen or so students from the Immaculate Conception School read biographis of the soldiers whose names are memorialized in the gatehouse.

It was a good reminder -- especially after yesterday's barbecue -- of what Memorial Day is all about.