WHAT MEMORIAL DAY MEANS TO ME
- It means that we must remember the true spirit of the holiday, as we honor those who served, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
- It means that we have the freedom to pursue our own vision of happiness. For many of my friends, as well as for me, that means sharing our passion for the old car hobby.
- It means that I can volunteer to spend a few hours to participate in a local parade, giving citizens a reason to come out and smile, cheer, and wave the flag.
- It means that I have freedom of choice to purchase and drive the car that I want, not based on what someone determines is “the right choice” based on that vehicle’s country of origin.
- It means that our children, our future generations, can learn from the past, and work toward a future that we hope is peaceful and safe for them.
- It means that there is great joy in recognizing that Americans come in all colors, from all different backgrounds and nationalities, and they are as proud and happy as anyone to celebrate this momentous holiday with all their fellow Americans.
All photographs copyright © 2018 Richard A. Reina. Photos may not be copied or reproduced without express written permission.
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Rich, I like your pictures and your comments. I don’t know if you remember me, but I am a friend of Ted Kadala’s and I met you a couple of time at the Greenwich Concours d’Elegance. Hugh
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Hi Hugh, I certainly do. Thanks for your comments. Feel free to sign up to follow the blog; I post about once a week; no spam or posts that are nothing more than links to other sites, promise! Regards, Richard
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Beautifully expressed sentiments! And great pictures of the spectators that illustrate those sentiments!
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Hi Bob, I must state that I observed the same thing last year: streets lined with non-white American CITIZENS, all waving flags and cheering wildly. This year I decided to photograph the crowds (a bit easier to do in the convertible). Given the latest news out of D.C., which is that the Federal government might want to deny us freedom of choice for our automotive purchases, and that children of immigrants are being separated from their parents, I think our comments about this parade can stand as a stark reminder of what it really means to be American. Best regards, Richard
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[…] my third consecutive year in the parade, as it’s local to me. (You can read about the 2017 and 2018 events at the underlined […]
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[…] a collector car in the Hillsborough NJ Memorial Day parade. I reported on my drives in 2017, 2018, and 2019; in 2020 and 2021, either the parades were cancelled (Covid or weather) or I was unable […]
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