ROCKPORT — After seven days of rain, the sun spread warmth over Maine on Memorial Day, May 27, and in most every town, citizens turned out in town commons, streets and graveyards to honor their soldiers who died in service defending the country. Memorial Day is also a time to collectively commemorate each town's own historical legacy, and in Rockport, there is a strong thread between the living and their ancestors.

Reverend Ralph Miller, who grew up in Rockport, spoke, as he does each year, about the sacrifices of those who died defending the U.S. and its values. He led the annual parade from the Rockport Village Post Office to the green by the library, where the community paused at the memorial. Then, the parade wound down Central Street and to the Goose River Bridge, where it again paused as two Girls Scouts tossed a wreath down into the river below, to be carried out to sea. The Honor Guard delivered a round of gunshot to the air and a Camden Hills Regional High School student played "Tap."

The parade the walked up the hill to Amsbury Hill Cemetery, where final honors were paid to the dead.

What follows are Rev. Miller's remarks, as he eloquently captured the reason we all observe Memorial Day.

At the village green

This park and memorial honors those who fought. Each year we come here to pay tribute to those who sacrificed years and some who gave their lives to protect and defend our nation.

Hopefully, many, as they pass by, pause to remember and pray that they did not give their lives in vain.

On another shore, Flanders Field, crosses, row on row, testify to the loss of so many of our sons and daughters. John McCrae wrote:

"To you from failing hands we throw the torch to hold it high

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders Field."

The sacrifices of all those who defended us should arouns those who serve as leaders of our nation to return to their duty to advance the wellbeing of our country by uniting in common cause, compromising, working out differences, remembering men and women did not only stand to fight agression and tyranny but to move our country forward to all the challenges that face us today.

Is it possible for our nation's leaders and ourselves to build on their sacrifices?

We salute our nation's flag, but remember it represents only what we make of it as a society and individuals. Lift high the flag, but lift high our resolution to so live and work that this national may have a new birth of freedom."

On the bridge

The sea has much to tell of those whose lives were given at sea. For some, it was before they arrived to fight on another shore. For others, it was on a ship to suffer an attache of an enemy seeking to reach our shores.

As this wreath is cast into the water, may it symbolize our recognition of their sacrifice and our commitment to a lasting peace in our world.

May we answer the question that comes from those lost at sea. Where is the peace, the love, the goodwill we died to gain?

May our answer come from deep within us and our commitment to seek peace in all our relationships.

At Amsbury Hill Cemetery

On this hill are those known to us as relatives and friends and ancestors, who settled here — the Thorndikes — to whom many of us identify as the great-great-greats, who worked the quarries, the sea, the farms, the small shops. Craftsman, farmers, storekeepers, teachers.

These ancestors worked long and hard to survive in what as sometimes an uncooperative and rugged climate without the technology of today.

At rest are those who built ships at the harbor, who were coopers making barrels for shipping lime for construction on the northeastern shore of the U.S., who were preachers who carried the gospel to the surrounding towns, who cut the trees for masts of ships, who fought in the Revolution, in the War of 1812, the Civil War.

We are blessed by all these who struggled and remained faithful in the good times and the dark times.

Today, Memorial Day recalls all those who fought for our country, beginning with the American Revolution to the present-day conflict.

Before us stands the cross dedicated to the unknown soldiers, unknown to us but a part of our national history.

May we hold in precious memory all those who have given their lives. Known and unknown to us, but known to God.

Editorial Director Lynda Clancy can be reached at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 706-6657.