In a world tortured with uncertainty and anxiety this weekend we will all take a collective breath and enjoy our families and some time off from work but we should not forget that the Memorial Day holiday is very much about commemorating those who have come before us.

Many of us will walk among the silent headstones that adorn our local cemeteries and place flowers upon the final resting places of our loved ones. We will also mark the day with a recognition of the sacrifice and service so many young men and women made over the course of our great history to make our own freedom possible.

For sure, after the weekend passes, many of us will move forward and the memories of those who died in the service of our great nation will fade into the background. We should, though, ensure those memories don’t fade completely away. Instead, we must always recall the great sacrifices made by those who chose to serve their county in a time of peril and remember their commitment and that they gave all so our great nation can prosper.

I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend and I also hope none of us forget the true meaning of Memorial Day.

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If you missed the latest issue of the Chieftain, here is something you might have missed.

Reporter Bill Bradshaw’s story on the outlook for the upcoming summer tourism season around the area and the optimism area business groups feel about coming season. Jeff Budlong also wrote about the cool, wet spring and how that has helped ease drought conditions, but the threat of wildfires still remains.

Next week, look for a roundup of some of the Memorial Day activities from around the county.

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As always, I want to take this opportunity to thank our subscribers for their support of the Wallowa County Chieftain. We can’t do this work without you.