Memorial Day has new significance since Sept. 11

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Memorial Day certainly takes on a different meaning after the events of Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001.

Ironically, that tragic day – in which thousands of innocent lives were lost in an act of terrorism tantamount to an act of war – may actually have brought us back to the roots of this day, originally called Decoration Day: A day when people went to cemeteries and left flowers on the graves of those who died in war.

Today, families who have at least been able to claim the remains of relatives who died as a result of the September terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, will certainly be among those who visit cemeteries throughout the United States to honor those who died in war.

In truth, for most of us, Memorial Day is not just a day to honor the war dead.

It is much more.

Memorial Day is a day when families visit cemeteries of all deceased loved ones and, perhaps, mow the grass around the lots, plant flowers by the headstones, or just pause a moment to remember them.

For readers unfamiliar with the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance, I remind you that this commission, established by Congress, not only promotes Moments of Remembrance throughout the year, but suggests that Americans observe a special Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. today.

The theme of this year’s National Moment of Remembrance is “One Nation. One Moment.”

The commission asks individuals to observe a moment of silence at 3 p.m. today, and requests that communities, radio stations and public events mark the occasion by playing taps.

And while this special moment is intended to honor those who died in all wars, it is also an opportunity to remember those killed on Sept. 11, 2001, as well as all who died during terrorist attacks on the USS Cole in 2000 and at two U.S. embassies in East Africa in 1998 which, as a nation, we are now coming to realize may well be related to the events of Sept. 11.

Frank Yager is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion Post 207 in Trenton.

He has noticed that many veterans’ graves have no headstones, and he believes “every veteran’s grave deserves a headstone.”

Yager urges families of deceased veterans to make sure they discuss this situation with funeral directors and, if necessary, contact their congressional representatives about obtaining a headstone for their loved one.

He added that part of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2001 includes a provision for providing headstones for deceased veterans.

“There is no reason to be bashful for applying for a gravestone,” he added. “Every veteran earned this small token.”

For family and friends of the late Ellsworth couple Everett and Peggy Dorr, who were killed when the van they were in went off the highway last month on Interstate 75 north of Tampa, Fla., this Memorial Day is going to be especially difficult.

The accident was even more traumatic for everyone concerned because six other passengers were injured during what had been a wonderful vacation trip.

The group of family and friends reportedly had just visited Walt Disney World in Orlando and was headed for the Grand Ole Opry in Tennessee when the tragedy occurred.

Daughter Tammy Smith of Orlando wrote the Bangor Daily News recently, explaining what a devastating experience this was for family and friends.

“In the days following the accident, there were many times we felt too overwhelmed with grief to go on,” she wrote. “We did not know how we would care for everyone once they were released from the hospital, and to get everyone home to Maine seemed like an impossible task. We could not even begin to think about what needed to be done once we were home.”

Family friend Michelle Tetrault of Ellsworth is still hospitalized in Tampa, but it is hoped she will be home within the next month.

Fortunately, however, the Dorr family has not been alone during these difficult days.

“Our concerns and needs were met by a flood of generosity and offers of help from everyone who knows us, and even many who did not,” Smith wrote.

She is especially grateful to members of “American Legion Post #207 for providing emotional and financial support, bringing us all home, and for planning the memorial service that so many of our friends attended.”

Smith expressed her sincere gratitude “to all the other organizations, and to everyone else who donated time, money and support to help our family through this. I wish I could thank everyone personally, but there were so many that it would fill an entire page.”

“I believe Mom and Dad would be amazed at how many people loved, respected and cared about them,” she added. “They were the most generous and honest people I have ever known, and they will be greatly missed by everyone who knew them.”

The Dorrs were both 56 years old.

Smith added that the family would like to hear from anyone “who has a story or memory of them they would like to share with the future generations who will not have the opportunity to know them.”

You are invited to e-mail your memories of the Dorrs to Bitoflucky@hotmail.com or send your memories to P.O. Box 405, Ellsworth 0405.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; 990-8288.