Berea’s Memorial Day parade was canceled in 2020 due to Covid. It was canceled again in 2021, but Covid precautions served as a thin excuse since other events went on as scheduled. For the third year in a row, there will be no Memorial Day parade. Have we simply decided to do away with this important and long-standing tradition?
The Memorial Day parade should be treated as a priority event. Instead, it has been wiped from Berea’s calendar while events such as concerts and festivals will still go on—events none of us would be free to attend without the dedication and bravery of our country’s servicemen and servicewomen. An 11year-old Berean resident said, “what’s the point of having other parades if they’re gonna skip the most important one?” The Memorial Day parade provides the opportunity for our Veterans and the community to gather together to honor and pay respects to those who lost their lives fighting for our safety and freedom.
The parade is also important to the youth in our city because it is often their earliest exposure to a sense of country and community. A fourth-generation Berean said it was an educational experience for him in his childhood because “it was my first awareness of Memorial Day and what it represented.” This is an event where children learn about wars and the soldiers who protect our country and our rights. They learn about what it means to be patriotic as they watch the Veterans march down the street and see the people lined up on the sidewalks—“all coming together for a single purpose.” Another Berean said, “it was always a delight to watch my granddaughter wave the American flag around.” It is a powerful experience for a young child. At the very least, it encourages patriotism, but may also spark interest in a child who may one day proudly serve our country.
The importance of having a Memorial Day parade is felt by so many people in our community. One woman who grew up in Berea and raised her children here talked about how her kids always participated in Berea’s parade. She said, “My uncles and grandfather were in the military, so it was something we held dear to our family.” One of our very own Veterans said that he is pleased there will still be a ceremony, but that not everyone attends these ceremonies. “The parade is a way to reach more of the community, and I think it’s a mistake not to have it.”
Many Bereans hope to see the Memorial Day parade brought back to our city next year. Our fallen soldiers deserve to be honored, respected, and thanked for their services that provide us the freedoms we enjoy every day.
