We have a long tradition of remembering our war dead on Memorial Day and celebrating all of those people who have risked life and limb to protect the greater community. This is entirely appropriate, and we continue to offer our thanks and gratitude to those members of the armed services who have given so much to this country — even made the ultimate sacrifice.
And this year, as the coronavirus has changed so much in our society, it has also changed our treasured traditions of Memorial Day. Due to the necessary social distancing directives, we will not have big parades for the first time in living memory; we will not have huge gatherings of family and friends; we will not come together in crowds around monuments and memorials to invoke the names of those who served us, who risked their lives to save ours.
This year, we thought, Memorial Day is different so this newspaper will mark it in a different way. This Memorial Day we are honoring the people who gave their lives in service to this country — the proud men and women of the U.S. Armed Services. And we are also noting and honoring those people still among us who are putting themselves at risk in the fight against a different kind of enemy — an illness that has already claimed the lives of more Americans than some wars. (See our stories below.)
This coming Monday, give thanks for the people who have given their lives in service to our country. Remember them to their families and loved ones. And also pause and think about all of your neighbors who are battling coronavirus; in large ways and small, they are doing their part in this most unusual season.
— John S. McCright, news editor  
Store clerks join a long list of heroes
Memorial Day flags more meaningful this year
Band leader O’Daniel misses her final parade
What Memorial Day means to you and me
Chief Hanley informs and entertains with his COVID-19 bulletins