By: Natasha Ryan, Public Information Officer
In this week’s City Chat, we decided to talk about Edmonds Memorial Cemetery. Especially given the recent holiday, and the beloved annual event that happens there every Memorial Day. What I can tell you is for that event, you just must be there to experience the warmth, even on a cold rainy day. It’s thoughtful and well designed, an event that very clearly has been going on for years, rain or shine, to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for each of us.
For those of you who have never made a visit to the cemetery, I highly recommend it. Not in a morbid way, instead taking in the natural beauty of the grounds while also learning more about who resides there. George Brackett (founder of Edmonds) himself, along with 13 other mayors, are buried on the 6.5-acre historical site. But attending the Memorial Day event reminded me, you don’t have to go far to find greatness, and to limit that level of greatness to just political leaders and names you recognize leaves out so many more people who contributed so much.
On Memorial Day, each American flag flying low to the ground marks the resting place of a veteran. In fact, of the almost 7500 graves at the Edmonds Cemetery, more than 600 of them belong to veterans. Each one, honored on Memorial Day, along with the relatives able to attend the event. With the raising of the flag, it all unfolded…. hands sharply pressed to foreheads in salute, the Armed Forces medley playing, to the graceful words of the speakers, and the sound of Taps.
We heard from Mayor Mike Rosen, James Keefe, author of Two Gold Coins and a Prayer, which recounts the story of his father being shot down over the Nazi-occupied Netherlands during WWII and Sonja Bateman. She lived as a child in Nazi-occupied Denmark during World War II.
Tears flowed as Sonja so poignantly reminded us of the value of our often taken-for-granted freedom. “As we sailed towards and past the beautiful lady with the torch high into New York Harbor, we felt a peace and at home. Our eyes swelled with tears of thanksgiving to God for having preserved us to witness this very special time in our lives.” She encouraged those suffering or grieving the loss of their loved ones to take solace in the love and devotion the brave men and women had for the country they served.
While the Mayor encouraged us to recognize the value of that sacrifice. “As long as Americans gather on days like this, as long as a child places a flag next to a headstone, you’ll never be forgotten. So, when we leave here today, let’s just not be grateful for their sacrifice, but worthy of it. They gave absolutely everything they have for this country. What we do with that gift, that’s up to each of us.”
Still reflective of being present during such a humbling celebration of service, I have one more thought to share. This cemetery itself isn’t just a place for the dead; it’s very much for the living. A place where families gather, share memories, are able to still talk to their loved ones that no longer physically walk the Earth. Upon a recent visit, I came across a man who lost his wife. Without fail, he is there every day, dusting off the pine needles on her headstone, watering the flowers he leaves for her and showing her pictures of the grandchildren. And maybe that’s what places like this are really for: reminding us that love, sacrifice, and memory never truly leave us.