This past Memorial Day weekend was unlike any I've ever experienced before, and not in a good way or at least that is what I felt at first.

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The weather was as bad as I've ever seen on Memorial Day. Many celebrations and parades were cancelled due to COVID-19. The holiday lacked so many of the elements that make it fun.

That said, it's a holiday dedicated to the memory of our soldiers who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, to protect our freedom. Sometimes we all need to remind one another that there is a remembrance that should be taking place. My reminder came from a Danbury church.

This Memorial Day, I was a bit down knowing it would not have the same feel it normally does. I woke up around 6:50 am and sat in my chair in the kitchen having coffee and thinking about what I could do with the family and kept falling short of an answer that would be exciting.

Right at 7:59, I grabbed the garbage and walked it outside to the dumpster and as the clocked ticked to 8 am, I heard it, a very familiar song echoing through the city of Danbury from St. Peter Church on Main Street.

The song was "America (My Country, 'Tis of Thee)' and my mood changed from down in the dumps to proud. The words of the song started floating through my head as I heard the tune.

"My country, 'tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims' pride,
From ev'ry mountainside
Let freedom ring!"

The song reminded me, no matter what I'd do on Memorial Day, the choices were my own to make. People died to protect my freedom to choose what I want for myself and my family.

I chose to take it slow on Monday, we went for lunch and got steaks. Yesterday was made possible by men and women, all of whom I've never met, standing up for me, standing up for this country and losing their life doing it.

I managed to capture some of it, so you could hear it for yourself.

UPDATE: Patty from Danbury messaged me to inform me, I may have made a mistake. Patty says the church bells came from St. James Church on West Street. I thanked her and mentioned that I am hard of hearing so it's difficult to know which direction the bells were coming from. There are also 87 churches in about a 4 block section in my neighborhood. She (Patty) provided even more helpful information writing:

"During the month of July every Wednesday at 12:30 pm they will have free concerts with guest musicians. I invite you to join us to listen in the church garden. It’s free!"

Patty got in touch with us using the I-95 Rock Mobile App Chat feature and you can too. Download the app for free at Google Play or the App Store

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