Beyond the BBQ: A symphony of remembrance and summer joy in the Lakes Region

Memorial Day serves as the official kick-off to summer in the Lakes Region. Towns ready themselves for the return of summer residents and vacationers ready to enjoy all that the Lakes Region has to offer.

But this particular weekend carries a solemn purpose. It’s a time of remembrance, and I found such an occasion recently while walking to the park with my five-year-old. As we passed the old cemetery in Gilford, she asked about the “stones,” and I tried my best to explain what they are and why they are there. She asked me if people turn into rocks.

I chuckled a little but I really had to think about how to explain this in a way that wasn’t terrifying to a child. We went on to the park and played a bit. When we left the park, I told her I was going to show her where her great-grandfather and great-grandmother were buried there; Willis “Doc” Hoyt and Mildred “Millie” Hoyt.

Doc and Millie were quite well-known around Gilford. Doc was a podiatrist on Easy Street in the Village for many years. They lived in the community for a long time. Doc was also known, especially to his children and grandchildren, to be an extraordinary storyteller and quite the prankster. Millie was known for her volunteering spirit, especially her time with the Red Cross. Her children and grandchildren still talk about her elaborately decorated Christmas cookies.

As we walked through the cemetery, my daughter asked about death and I did my best to explain it to a five-year-old, but we finally reached our destination at the Hoyt burial marker. I showed her their names and told her a little about them. But along with their headstones was a copper marker indicating Doc’s service in the military. It was great timing with Memorial Day approaching. While neither Doc nor Millie died in service, it did allow me to talk a little about that, in a kid-friendly way, of course.

You’re going to think this is completely made up, but I would swear under oath that it’s true. A little further into our walk home, she stopped and started saying the Pledge of Allegiance. This made me very curious. She told me she saw a flag in someone’s yard and said, “I always say the pledge of allegiance when I see a flag.” She told me she says it every morning in school. It’s astonishing how children think. I’m still not sure if she put the two things together but the timing couldn’t have been more appropriate.

As stories of fallen heroes are shared, it is a poignant reminder that the freedoms we cherish come at a cost. Each story of valor and bravery echoes through our celebrations, urging us to honor their memory and never forget the price of our liberty.

So, as you raise a toast to the start of summer, take a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Memorial Day. Visit a local ceremony, pay your respects to those who have fallen in the line of duty, and let the spirit of remembrance mingle with the anticipation of warm days and endless fun.

Happy Memorial Day!