I would like to express my surprise and dismay at the lack of a ceremony of remembrance on 11 November 2011, Veteran’s Day, as it is referred to in the United States of America.

No one took pause at the Memorial Park at the foot of Spring Street and neither did any of our elected or paid civic officials see fit to lower the Colors to half staff at the courthouse or make any appropriate recognition of the moment.

I was especially non-plussed that American Legion seemed to have no sense of occasion and no display of solemnity for Veterans, alive or dead.

In short, it seemed that no one in Friday Harbor, except for yours truly, took time to remember veterans and their families at eleven o’clock on the eleventh day of the eleventh month.

A famous and solemn poem says, “If ye break faith with us who die, We shall not sleep…”

So John McCrae et al, rest in Peace. I remembered — I hope it will suffice.

I began this letter with a thought that I might say “shame on you Friday Harbor and the American Legion executive committee”, but then I remembered… it’s a free country.

Frank Reeves

San Juan Island