Memorial Day is a time for reflection and gratitude. And such was the case Monday at Memorial Park in Hillsboro.

What a moving and thoughtful program the local American Legion presents each year. It is reverent, thoughtful, and meaningful.

Representative Brookens presented a different twist on the typical annual speech, referring to his personal experiences with American Legion Riders/Patriot Guard to make a point.

That group is an important part of all of our communities. It is interesting to note the group has not been around all that long but it sure would be missed if it were not.

Riders are friends and neighbors from our communities. They are people we go to church with and see at the grocery store. They are people who we can count on to offer support while our soldiers are away. They are people we can count on to welcome our soldier’s home from war.

They are people we can count on when we need them the most.

I join Representative Brookens in saying, “Thank you.”

— susan berg