Glen Arden Village hosted a fantastic Memorial Day celebration at the Foothill Center on Saturday, May 24. The day started off with rousing accordion music performed masterfully by Joe Domitrowich showcasing tunes from the American Songbook. Dinner featured barbecued sausages from Dittmer’s alongside many varied and delicious pot luck selections provided by Glen Arden residents. A no-host bar professionally manned by Rafael from the Clubhouse rounded out the selections for the meal.
With the conclusion of dinner, the evening really started to develop into the special experience it became. Accompanied by the accordion, fellow villager Richard Holmboe led a sing-along of patriotic songs while the audience consulted songbooks made for the occasion. Domitrowich then played dance music and many other specialty pieces so well-conceived and performed that the audience was wowed. Holmboe led a medley of armed forces signature songs from the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines during which veterans for each of the services stood.
Three veterans spoke to the crowd about their experiences in the service. Bob Hansen talked about his time in the Navy. Jerry Neece spoke about what it means to be a veteran and about his tour of duty in the Army. Craige Edgerton, a Marine, talked about his experiences as a veteran of the Vietnam War. In fact, Edgerton has edited a book entitled “Permission to Walk in Peace – Stories of Healing from Trauma as Told by Combat Veterans.” The audience was deeply touched by all three presentations and, at times, was brought to tears.
The evening ended with Holmboe performing the WWI poem In Flanders Fields and everyone standing to sing God Bless America. In the words of one attendee, “the numerous decorations were fantastic; the food great with many choices; the music showcasing the red, white and blue kept us in the spirit of Memorial Day; the veterans who shared their experiences in the military was informative and had us teary eyed. This event was the most well-planned and memorable village event I have attended. A heartfelt thank you!”
