Berets and baseball caps were pressed close to the heart as the sounds of horns rose over a field of flags and gravestones at Dulaney Valley Memorial Gardens on Memorial Day.
More than 300 people gathered in Timonium on the sun-scorched afternoon to honor fallen and returning soldiers and reflect on the Iraq war.
“Today in Iraq, it?s a makeshift roadside bomb or the art of ambush that robs us of our treasures,” said Joseph Nawrozki, a combat reporter who served in Vietnam.
“Please, on this special day, keep a corner of your heart open to those who return from this war ? it?s a very personal thing.”
Gov. Robert Ehrlich and Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, D-2nd, gave hugs and plaques to family members of Maryland soldiers who have died in the Iraq war. A program showed the faces of 18 Maryland servicemembers who died in the past year while serving in Iraq.
“It was amazing for so many people to take the time to show their respect. It?s nice to know the spirit of America is still alive,” said Norman Anderson Jr., whose 21-year-old son, Lance Cpl. Norman Anderson III, was killed October 19, 2005, in a suicide car bombing.
Ehrlich reminded those in attendance to teach their children the meaning of Memorial Day.
“I get to talk to a lot of kids ? kids that sometimes associate Memorial Day with a three-day weekend, the end of school and baseball. The kids are the future. We have to remind them that they have a tomorrow because so many people gave up their todays,” he said.
Ruppersberger called for the nation to support its troops in Iraq.
“Our troops deserve our full backing, making sure they have resources, equipment, and manpower they need and deserve. Whatever your position on the war, we must always stand behind our troops,” Ruppersberger said.
