Lake Zurich Mayor Tom Poynton’s Memorial Day Speech
May 30th, 2022 @ 11am
Village Board Members Present: Greg Weider … Dan Bobrowski
Andrew Tangen: Superintendent of Veterans Assistance Commission of Lake County – Guest Speaker
Assembled Veterans … Current Military, and … Residents and Families of Lake Zurich
Good morning … and Welcome! to Lake Zurich and today’s Memorial Day ceremony. Thank you for attending.
Before I get to my “official” duties … How about the LZHS Band … they are out here every Memorial Day … rain, sleet, snow or sometimes in sweltering heat … you will hear more from them in a bit. Thank You Josh Thompson and LZHS Band!
I am again honored to be here with you this morning as we reflect upon … and remember … our fallen service members and the sacrifices that they and their families have made on behalf of our country.
Memorial Day is a day of reflection and remembering the men and women who died while serving … and the “usual” theme of Memorial Day is … “Remember”.
Today is no different … even as we are facing the unprecedented modern challenges of COVID-19, the unconscionable Russian invasion of Ukraine and the recent senseless shootings in Buffalo, NY and Uvalde, TX.
Though we may also be facing our own individual challenges, we will always devote time to honor and remember the heroes who gave their lives.
It is common to give special emphasis on historical wars and rightfully so.
No one who has given their lives for our freedom should ever be a passing memory.
Memorial Day gives us time to reflect on the historical battles and wars fought … and the lives lost.
The “War to End All Wars” did not unfortunately, end all wars.
We must not only honor the fallen of past wars but to also, keep in mind that men and women are dying today at war.
Military combat zones exist all over the world and the United States, with 750 bases in at least 80 countries, remains at war today … with thousands deployed overseas and still more thousands serving at home.
St. Francis de Sales parish in Lake Zurich “Remembers”. They devote a full page of the Weekly Parish Bulletin to the remembering of local service women and men currently serving and those who have returned home safely
Memorial Day Weekend can be very complicated for modern military families. So, we remain mindful of not only the past but our present losses.
Before you wish every veteran or service member or their family a “Happy” Memorial Day, remember that for military families it means something much, much bigger than the start of summer.
This is a very tender time of year for many … and many are grieving.
Their day feels fraught with memories of those they’ve lost, and it could be a recent loss that is mixed with gratitude for the times that they’ve had.
If we want to honor and celebrate patriotism and the military this Memorial Day, then we have to honor the complicated feelings that surround it.
Memorial Day is about remembering and honoring every single man and woman who has died for our freedoms — men and women who were mothers and fathers, sons and daughters, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, patriots, and incredible Americans and really, really great friends.
While it is true that every day is Memorial Day for the families of the fallen, they aren’t asking that you stay inside and wallow.
But we do owe it to them to pause, reflect, honor and remember.
What better way to honor them than to be surrounded by those we love. They are grateful for your pause and reflections as you celebrate our heroes and the lives that they lived.
From Bunker Hill to Afghanistan, there has always been a select group of Americans willing to fight for a cause greater than their self-preservation.
Most of us have not been willing to write our wills at the age of 18 and good-bye letters in case we are killed in serving our country.
So, honor those who President Lincoln characterized as giving “the last full measure of devotion”.
Talk to your children, grandchildren, neighbors, family, and friends about … sacrifice, service, and what this three-day weekend really means.
Observe the National Moment of Remembrance Silence at 3 p.m. today with a minute of silence and reflection.
Look for ways that you can be of service throughout the year to honor the memories of those who gave their lives.
It is humbling to reflect how inextricably connected and united we are as a nation in remembering, because of the brave that gave the ultimate sacrifice.
We honor them today and strive to continue throughout the rest of our days to never forget. <Pause>
Referencing back to Ukraine … I don’t know how anyone can look at the killing and destruction happening there and not be moved … and pissed off.
It is mindless, amoral and unnecessary.
Please keep the people and soldiers of Ukraine … who are dying for their freedom … in your remembrances today.
I am a veteran and I “remember”
May we never forget.
Thank you for attending today.
