Memorial Day traditions continued in the Chadds Ford area this weekend, from festive to solemn.
For the 48thyear, the Brandywine River Museum of Art held its annual Antique Show. Antique vendors — 25 in all — from along the east coast, from Virginia to Maine were on hand to sell their wares. Along the way, the museum gets money a portion of the proceeds. That money benefits the Museum Volunteers’ Art Purchase Fund. More than $1 million has been raised over the years.
The event opened with a preview Friday night and ran through the weekend.
An appreciation of art and antiques turned to the more solemn observation associated with the that’s dedicated to remembering the men and women of the U.S. armed forces who fell in battle or as a result of their wounds received in combat.
Chadds Ford’s Joe Vaites was the guest speaker at a ceremony held at the Brandywine Baptist Church cemetery. He reminded those attending that it is a day to remember the fallen and lamented that, for many, it has come to mean little more than the unofficial start of summer.
As is part of the tradition, flowers were placed at the graves of former servicemen who are buried at the church cemetery.
Vaites is a Vietnam War veteran who earned the Bronze Star for his service. He said he learned how soldiers live in the jungle in combat, “and how they die. … Always remember and honor those who died.”
Later in the morning, Kennett square held its annual Memorial Day parade, complete with marching bands, floats and streets lined with applauding onlookers.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
Loading...
Comments