Island Light: Sounds of Silence
Rowing gig Grace heads out past the Shenandoah in Vineyard Haven harbor.
Rowing gig Grace heads out past the Shenandoah in Vineyard Haven harbor.
Summer's (almost) here and the time is right for dancing in the street.
Summer's (almost) here and the time is right for dancing in the street.
Ferry Nantucket arrives carrying weekend passengers.
Ferry Nantucket arrives carrying weekend passengers.
Photo op on the dunes of Katama.
Photo op on the dunes of Katama.
Mama and her calf at the Farm Institute.
Mama and her calf at the Farm Institute.
Agreeable weather for drinks on the porch at Church's Pier.
Agreeable weather for drinks on the porch at Church's Pier.
Crossing the bridge at Duarte's Pond.
Crossing the bridge at Duarte's Pond.
Rosa rugosa blooming in the dunes of State Beach is welcome sight.
Rosa rugosa blooming in the dunes of State Beach is welcome sight.
Historic farming equipment remains at Pecoy Point.
Historic farming equipment remains at Pecoy Point.
Blue skies beyond East Chop Light on Telegraph Hill.
Blue skies beyond East Chop Light on Telegraph Hill.
Emerging ferns brighten wetlands with their green.
Emerging ferns brighten wetlands with their green.
Keeping an eye on the neighbors in the Katama creek.
Keeping an eye on the neighbors in the Katama creek.
Construction continues on Institute Hill.
Construction continues on Institute Hill.
Here's hoping the beach plum flowers turn into fruit later this sunmer.
Here's hoping the beach plum flowers turn into fruit later this sunmer.
Canada geese are year-round fixture in Ocean Park.
Canada geese are year-round fixture in Ocean Park.
The landscapers are running just a little late.
The landscapers are running just a little late.
Huckleberry growth in the Katama Great Plains.
Huckleberry growth in the Katama Great Plains.
Signs of late May on Seaview avenue.
Signs of late May on Seaview avenue.
Trade Wind airfield has been in operation since at least 1938.
Trade Wind airfield has been in operation since at least 1938.
Lobsterville Grill and Bar will be hopping.
Lobsterville Grill and Bar will be hopping.
On Friday Vineyard school children walked to the sea, to the water’s edge where they set an appropriate tone for this long holiday weekend. There were recitals of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address in Edgartown. In Tisbury students tossed flowers in the harbor and to the sea beyond. And Chilmark children listened to the Coast Guard tell them first hand stories on the significance of Memorial Day.
The importance of Memorial Day lies not in the bustle heard in Island streets, but rather in the soft words spoken at memorials and in salutes to those lost. The sounds of silence will rise from the missing, from the millions who cannot be with us to celebrate the coming of summer on this holiday weekend.
And so on this Memorial Day holiday weekend we bid welcome to our returning seasonal friends and to strangers from afar, and we wish for all a good and prosperous summer ahead.