Thumbs Up to all of the individuals and organizations that made Memorial Day so very memorable:
• to the Memorial Day Committee for their months of planning all aspects of the parade and ceremony;
• to those who participated in the Naval Ceremony at the Little River;
• to the Congregational Church for sponsoring their Annual Pancake Breakfast;
• to the Hampton Gazette for sponsoring the Annual Chicken Barbecue;
• to the equestrian team which marched and performed on the Town Hall campus after the ceremony;
• to the Historical Society for opening the Burnham-Hibbard House and its exhibits to the public;
• to the Recreation Commission for sponsoring the Barstool Diplomats to entertain us;
• and to all who participated in the parade – the elementary school children, the Parish Hill marching band, the Fire Department, the owners of tractors and antique vehicles, especially the one that transported the Grand Marshals, and all of the wonderful floats. It was, indeed, a grand parade!

Thumbs Down to the tractor that displayed a political sticker promoting a presidential candidate. Originally meant to honor those who lost their lives in battle, Memorial Day has expanded to include all veterans and soldiers, and to encompass parades, ceremonies, community and backyard barbecues, and to become the unofficial start of summer. But it has never, here in Hampton, contained an ounce of politics – nor should it. The fact that someone exploited this public opportunity disappoints.