Eastlake’s solemn ceremony commemorates those who paid ultimate price for freedom

Hundreds gathered May 28 at Eastlake’s Boulevard of 500 Flags to pay respect to U.S. servicemen and women who have given their lives for the everyday freedoms America enjoys today.

Key among the thoughts of the day was the fact that, although folks from coast to coast and border to border traditionally mark Memorial Day with cookouts and other festivities, its true meaning rests among the graves of the soldiers who died to preserve Americans’ way of life.

In his short, solemn address to those gathered May 28, Eastlake Mayor Dennis Morley shared a poem published in May 2017 by Susan R. Smith, entitled We Honor You Today.

Following its recital, Morley reinforced the day’s theme.

“Today is about that,” Morley said. “It’s all about our veterans. It gives me the right to stand here and talk to you.”

He said he hopes that meaning isn’t lost in the festivities that would likely follow the 11 a.m. remembrance behind Eastlake City Hall.

“Remember that this is what today’s all about when you’re having your barbecues and you’re with your family later,” he said. “Thank you and have a great day.”

Before Morley and the rest of the ceremony’s presenters began the formal portion of the gathering, a few area residents expressed what Memorial Day means to them and why they choose to participate in the ceremony.

“It’s important to recognize the people that do serve - the men and women in the service - and the things that they do to keep us safe and free. I think it is good to do that,” said Eastlake resident Rich D’Apice, who attended the event with his wife, Deborah, and daughter, Doriann. “It’s easy, sometimes, to forget the sacrifices these men and women in the armed services make.”

Like D’Apice and his family, fellow Eastlake residents Anthony and Victoria Rinaldi said they come to the Boulevard of 500 Flags every year for the Memorial Day service there.

“I like it,” said Anthony, a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the late-1960s. “It’s great for all the guys that didn’t come home. And a lot of them were young guys.”

Victoria said she likes the Eastlake ceremony because “this is what Memorial Day is all about: the service, the Pledge of Allegiance, the songs, the prayers, the mayor and all the councilmen. It’s to remind us of what this day is really all about - to remember all the dead soldiers.”

She added that she would encourage anyone to attend the city’s Memorial Day observance.

“Oh, it’s wonderful. Every year, it’s wonderful. I would tell anyone to come and feel the patriotism, feel for the soldiers that have left us,” she said.

Anthony added that “it’s a great place to have it, too, because of the 500 flags.”

Speaking of the Boulevard of 500 Flags, its President, Joe Strand, rang the bell near the monument’s 9-11 Memorial five times during an especially;y solemn portion of the observance to commemorate five wars to which the U.S. sent soldiers.

Strand said Eastlake’s Memorial Day Service holds a special place in his heart.

“It makes me feel wonderful,” Strand said, adding that he couldn’t organize it each without the help of his “right-hand man,” Mike Rdzinski and the rest of the Boulevard of 500 Flags group, which maintains the monument solely through donations. “I have a lot of good representatives out there who are patriots and support us and realize how really important it is to keep it going.”

Jon Lloyd, a trustee of Eastlake’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3863, concurred.

“Me being a 24-year retired veteran, I think it’s good that we do remember our fallen comrades,” said Lloyd, who is also a member of the post’s honor guard. “I think people really need to hold all that we’ve sacrificed for our freedom very near and dear.”

He added that “I really like doing this.”

Another community member who said she’s honored to participate in the city’s Memorial Day Ceremony is Thomas Jefferson Elementary School Choir Director Amanda Baker, whose choir performs each year.

“It’s wonderful,” she said. “It’s an honor to be here and honor those that have fallen.”

The Boulavard of 500 Flags is located at 35150 Lakeshore Blvd. in Eastlake.

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