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Memorial Day

Memorial Day


Cookouts, picnics, sales in stores. The start of the summer season! Memorial Day brings friends and families together for happy times. There is a somber side to it too, remembering those who “gave all” while in service to our country. This article first appeared in May 2016 in bulgariastories.com, and is reprinted here with permission of the author. 


We know that Memorial Day is about remembering those who died in war, but there is an overlap that casts recognition on living veterans too. In that, the holiday doubles as an echo of Veterans Day, with friends often saying to veterans they know, “Thank you for your service.” At church on the first Memorial Day after our return from Peace Corps, Stormy and I heard the minister ask for “those who have served our country” to stand up and be recognized. Starting to rise, thinking of my time in the Air Force, I had a second thought on “serving our country” and encouraged Stormy to stand with me. Seeing her, the minister rephrased, “served our country for our freedom and for peace.”

Peace Corps LogoOver 300 Peace Corps volunteers have died in service, of the more than 200,000 who have served. Like in the armed services, there have been all kinds of causes for these deaths, from violence and deadly diseases to traffic accidents and just running out of time. There is a memorial at the Peace Corps Headquarters in DC to those who have lost their lives in Peace Corps service, names etched on black stone as if to reflect “The Wall” (The Vietnam Veterans Memorial) located not far away. There are lists and a number of touching remembrances online at the Fallen Peace Corps Volunteers Memorial Project.

I was in London once a few Novembers ago, on 11/11 specifically, when at 11:00 AM the city came to a stop for a moment of silence. It was impressive, though for only a minute as pedestrians, at least a noticeable number of them, stopped where they were and bowed their heads. Public ceremonies on Armistice Day, observed also in the US although morphed into our Veterans Day, were occasions of solemn remembrance for those who lost their lives in war. Initially it was for the Great War, “the war to end all wars.” Now of course we call that one WWI and we had to start numbering them, since as a species we have proven relentless in adding wars to the list. Our American Memorial Day goes back a bit farther, dating to the U.S. Civil War, when relatives would decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers. The distinction between the two holidays, one commemorating the dead and the other about honoring the sacrifices of the living, has become a little blurred. In any event, though, they both seem more respectfully observed than when our soldiers were coming back from Vietnam in the sixties. Still, though, the point of Memorial Day is honoring those who died in service.

A poem comes to mind. It is called “For the Fallen” and it was written in 1917 by Laurence Binyon. The most famous stanza, which I have seen inscribed on plaques and tablets in monuments, churches, and cemeteries all around the world, is this one:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.

When I first came across that verse, on a brass plaque years ago while visiting the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, it struck me hard, right in my memory muscle and made it ache. The faces of friends and classmates, pilot training buddies, some as close as brothers, flashed through my mind. They shall grow not old. The thought took my breath away. They were all young when I knew them, and those images would never change for me or for anyone else who knew them.

I wrote the lines down and kept them in my wallet. I learned some time later (after all knowledge had been scooped and plated by Google) that throughout much of the British Commonwealth, at memorial services, the verse is often recited by a minister or civil officiant and the final line, “We will remember them” is repeated by the audience in response.

The carillon at the Air Force Academy Cemetery has a song in its repertoire based on Binyon’s poem. It was played at the dedication ceremony when the bells were installed a few years ago, and it fits the Memorial Day theme. The words are below, starting with the well-known verse, and if you want to hear it on the bells you can listen here: We Will Remember Them.

We Will Remember Them

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.

All the fields of strife, they have left behind.
We’re bound to follow them, and until we do,
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them.

As the stars shall be bright when we are dust,
Soaring in echelon above the heav’nly plain,
As the stars that shall shine in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

Bonds of soul and steel, forged in flames of youth
Hold even stronger now, as we fall in line.
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning,
We will remember them. We will remember them.

Memorial Day. Cookouts, picnics, sales in stores. But yes, in a quiet moment, a thought for those who have died while serving our country “for our freedom and for peace.” We will remember them.


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Here Are the Locations for Garage Sale Weekend

Here Are the Locations for Garage Sale Weekend


Southern Gables, Valley View, and Parkwest Ridge Community Garage Sale Weekend will be Friday May 19 and Saturday May 20. Both the Southern Gables Neighborhood Association and the Parkwest Ridge HOA will be promoting the neighborhood sale for all of Southern Gables and Parkwest Ridge together. 


RESIDENTS HOLDING GARAGE SALES ARE ON THE MAP

… with addresses and any special categories of what they will be selling. This is a coordinated event with Southern Gables and Valley View: Between Garrison and Wadsworth, from Jewell Ave. down to Morrison Road, and Parkwest Ridge (west of Garrison, entrance from W. Jewell Place or W. Baltic Ave.

EVERYONE – HERE’S WHERE THE ACTION IS…

… for a link to a sale locator map that you can use on your phone. CLICK HERE.

You will also be able to pick up a paper copy at 8823 W Asbury Ave,

OR download & print a copy yourself HERE.

RESIDENTS – START NOW TO GATHER YOUR ITEMS

Here are some things to consider in getting ready for a successful sale.

Gather and sort items: Go through your home and gather items you no longer need or want. Sort them into categories such as clothing, electronics, household items, toys, etc. Clean and organize the items to make them more appealing to buyers.

Assign prices to each item based on their condition, age, and original value. Use stickers or tags to clearly mark the prices. Consider pricing items a little higher than your desired selling price to allow room for negotiation. Garage sale shoppers love to haggle, at least a little bit and sometimes “just for show.”

Organize your display: Set up a well-organized and visually appealing display. Arrange items in categories. Use tables, racks, and shelves to display items at different heights and create an inviting shopping experience. Group similar items together to make browsing easier for buyers.

Organize your supplies: Make sure you have things to run the sale as a business, such as tables, chairs, clothing racks, price stickers, tags, bags or boxes for purchased items, and cash to make change.

Create a welcoming atmosphere: Greet customers with a smile and be ready to answer any questions they may have. Be flexible with negotiations, but also know your bottom line for each item.

Stay organized during the sale: Consider track of sales by using a spreadsheet, notepad, or a mobile app. Record the items sold and the prices. This will help you calculate your total sales at the end of the day.

End of the sale: You might have to offer discounts toward the end of the day to encourage last-minute sales. AFter all, you’ve already decided these are things you’re better off without. Donate any unsold items to charity or make arrangements for their removal.

Remember, successful garage sales require a well-organized display, fair pricing, and friendly customer service. By following these steps, you’ll be well-prepared for a successful and enjoyable garage sale.

EVERYONE – FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MAY 19-20

We expect sale hours to be 8:00 to as late as 5:00, but sellers may vary their hours.

We hope to have lots of sellers and shoppers, friendly interaction, great deals, and lots of fun!

 


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Mayor Paul Addresses Southern Gables

Mayor Paul Addresses Southern Gables


Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul was elected in 2015 and re-elected in 2019, and has always been a friend of Southern Gables. We were honored to have him speak at our 2023 annual meeting. He gave us an update on a number of issues and concerns. 


First, starting with an item of concern that is literally right through the heart of Southern Gables, Mayor Paul relayed some information from our Ward 5 Councilor Mary Janssen. She has been looking into the problem of the weed-choked, overgrown ditch that has plagued the neighborhood for years. The Ag Ditch Company has characteristically refused to maintain it weed-free. (For some background on the history, read our story A Big Improvement from 2019.) She reached an agreement with the Ag Ditch Company that they will mow the east side once during the summer. However, they will not mow the west side. If the ditch company is requested to mow at any other time it will cost the neighborhood $1,800 per side. Residents are permitted to mow the ditch property, but the ditch company and Councilor Janssen did not address the question of liability. The fact that the Ag Ditch Company has legal rights that are senior to the City’s rights makes them hard to deal with. Increased awareness of wildfire  danger has added a layer of frustration with the situation as well.

Mayor Adam Paul. City of Lakewood photo

Mayor Paul discussed the recently approved “Navigation Centers” –  These Navigation Centers will provide transitional housing for persons experiencing homelessness. There are several shelters for animals in Jefferson County, but no homeless shelters in the County for human beings. This past winter there was an incremental step forward, at the Whitlock Center on Colfax which was opened for severe weather sheltering during the most extreme cold. The city also started a day work program. The goal is to put 20 to 30 people a week to work cleaning parks and picking up shopping carts. The Mayor told us how to learn more about the Navigators: here is a link to information on the City’s blog: Navigators Help the Homeless.  (For related information, this is a CBS Denver story about the warming center at Whitlock:  Lakewood focuses on resources for those experiencing homelessness.)

Zoning – Mayor Paul told us about the recent zoning bill, which would take away some of the local zoning control. Each property would allow for an 8-plex to be built on the existing property. It is a hot topic with lots of controversy.

Lakewood has a new Police Chief, Philip Smith – Crime and crime reduction is a focus of the city council. Crime is up in Lakewood, especially on Colfax and particularly with car thefts. The new chief’s goals and the city of Lakewood’s goals are to find ways to better enhance public safety.

Economic Development – On Tenth and Sheridan, in the old Holiday strip center, a developer purchased this location with goal of developing the land into a mixed-use property with housing and businesses. Economic development funds will be given from the City of Lakewood. The city will give the developer a $1 million loan to scrape what is currently on the lot.

Parks – The new park on Wadsworth at  Morrison, Peak View Park, will be open to the public in the next four or five weeks. The City of Lakewood is working with CDOT to reconfigure the Wadsworth and Morrison Road intersection to accommodate increased traffic going to the new park. When Mayor Paul began his term nearly eight years ago, the City of Lakewood had 101 parks and now we have 113 parks. A lot of TABOR dollars, as approved by Lakewood voters, went to the development of the parks.

Questions from the group – On the question of getting CDOT to put a traffic light at Evans and Wadsworth, There has not been any progress. It’s a difficult problem since it would complicate the situation with the light just north of Jewell; it was a bad choice to put one so close to Jewell in the first place, but the fact is that it’s there, and putting another equally close on the other side has been denied several times since it is thought that it would make a bad situation worse. As with any problem that a resident sees and thinks should be fixed, Mayor Paul said that the thing to do is report it. Persistence, and getting your neighbors involved to report problems as well, can pay off in getting attention focused.

https://thedenver100.com/living-in-lakewood-co/

An Inclusive Community. Photo from thedenver100.com, Living in Lakewood

In response to a question about the new housing on Wadsworth and 13th, they are apartments. To the observation that there is not much parking on the site, Mayor Paul explained the plan of having growth corridors – The City of Lakewood is planning housing projects in areas around transit lines, where many if not most of the residents can easily use public transportation: specifically near Belmar, Colfax, and Denver West.

Question about getting a sidewalk on Morrison to get to the park – it’s a CDOT road. CDOT has offered the road to Lakewood, but this is not a great deal for Lakewood taxpayers. Maybe over time.

Question – plans for mitigation of storm damage in the parks, like downed trees and branches, etc. – the Mayor said the Parks Department is pretty active, but sometimes they do just leave large areas of the parks for natural habitat. In response to a complaint about a specific downed branch in a conspicuous place at the park at Florida and Garrison, the mayor said he would put in a request for that branch to be removed.

Mayor Paul thanked us as a group for “always being friendly” to him during his tenure as Mayor, now nearing the end of eight years’ elected service. We like to think of Southern Gables as a decidedly friendly place, so we’re glad to note the feeling is mutual.


Official meeting minutes of the Southern Gables Neighborhood Association Annual  Business Meeting will be published as a comment to this article as a matter of record, within the next week. 


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