THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 2021 Page 7 ~ GUEST COMMENTARY ~ Remembering Our Fallen Heroes on Memorial Day By Salvatore Giarratani "Sometimes the only thing you got is what you believe in"— Anonymous When I was a kid, my family always remembered Memorial Day and what it stood for, and over my many years, I still take time to honor all those fallen heroes who gave up their lives and future to ensure that our America continued to be the home of the brave and land of the free. This year I was over in the City of Revere down by the American Legion lawn for this year’s holiday ceremony. The day like the weekend that proceeded it was still raw and dismal but people still came in support of all those heroes known and unknown who sacrifi ced their very being in defense of their country and the liberties we all cherish. We are living in troubled times. Many feel like America is going through a test and many fear the worse. I won’t do that. We have gone through troubles over and over again and the fl ag still fl ew and our freedoms still reigned. This too shall pass. As I stood there on the lawn looking around at all who came out to thank all who fought and died for this country going back to Lexington, Concord and the Battle of Bunker Hill, I saw no defeat in sight. Memorial Day isn’t a holiday thanking those who served but remembering those who shed their lives for all of us. Toward the end of the ceremony, Taps played – all 24 notes of it – and when the bugle fi nished there was no clapping or cheering but only somber remembrance for the many sacrifi ces off ered over the life of this America of ours. Before the ceremony ended the names of our fallen heroes from Revere were read aloud with a bell tolling for each name, then and only then we saw who this day was truly for. Growing up in the 50s and 60s, I saw and spoke with real heroes who served in our military. I knew two survivors from the attack on Pearl Harbor who carried the scars of that Day of Infamy for all their remaining years. I also was very fortunate to have a neighbor who lived next door to me in Boston’s South End who was a member of that select group of fighters picked by Col. Teddy Roosevelt who rode up San Juan Hill during the Spanish American War, and then who re-enlisted when America went to Europe in World War I. When it came time for me to serve following my high school graduation in 1966, I enlisted in the United States Air Force. My Uncle Joe Harrington from Charlestown was disappointed that I didn’t enlist in the US Navy like he did in the days following Pearl Harbor in 1941, but he was as proud of me as I was of him. Mayor Arrigo extends Fire Relief Fund to support families of Kingman Avenue blaze M ayor Brian Arrigo has extended the donation deadline for the Mayor’s Fire Relief Fund to support the families of the recent fi re on Kingman Avenue. The city is working collaboratively with Red Cross to secure housing, resources, and aid for the two households impacted. "I am extending the Fire Relief Fund to allow our community the opportunity to securely off er a hand to the families affected by the fi re on Kingsman Ave.," said Arrigo. "I am deeply grateful for the Revere Fire Department and our fi rst responders for ensuring the safety of our residents. As our local nonprofi ts and community organizations continue to support these families, this fund allows all in our community to off er help as they head toward better times.” Impacted families have received monetary support from Red Cross Massachusetts and will continue to receive support from the City’s community partners. Donations may be made online via PayPal by visiting https://www.revere.org/mayors-offi ce/relief. Donations may also be received via a check made out to “City of Revere, Mayor’s Offi ce Fire Relief Fund” and mailed to the Mayor’s Office or deposited at People’s United Bank on Broadway. AUTOTECH 1989 SINCE Is your vehicle ready for the Summer Season?!! Recharge your vehicle's AC for the warm weather! Includes up to 1 LB. of Refrigerant* (*Most Vehicles/Some Restrictions May Apply) AC SPECIAL Only $69.95 DRIVE IT - PUSH IT - TOW IT! CASH FOR YOUR CAR, TRUCK OR SUV! 2005 FORD F-150 XLT Excellent Vehicle Inside & Out!, Leather Interior, Fully Loaded, Clean Title, Warranty, Only 68,000 Miles! TRADES WELCOME! X-CAB EDITION, 4X4, Most Power Options, Clean Title, Warranty, Only 105K Miles! TRADES WELCOME! TRADES WELCOME! $5,300 $7,995 (781) 321-8841 • (617) 571-9869 Easy Financing Available! 1236 EasternAve • Malden EddiesAutotech.com Vehicle! For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net We Pay Cash For Your 2008 CHEVROLET IMPALA LTZ James Michael Curley and many others have said, “The worst thing in life isn’t dying but in not being remembered for having lived.” On every Memorial Day, we still remember and they still are all alive inside us today.
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