Thumbs up to all of those who participated in Memorial Day observances, whether it was placing flags on veterans’ graves, watching or marching in a parade, or just recognizing a moment of silence for fallen U.S. military personnel.

Memorial Day is an important time to focus on the sacrifices that have been made by our countrymen to secure and preserve freedom at home and abroad. The families of those service members who never came home are the ones who bear the heaviest burden of their loss, but we as a nation share in their grief on this holiday, and we will never forget the cost of our freedoms.

Thumbs up to the relocation of Biddeford’s alternative education program to the mill district. The new location at the Pepperell Mill campus will allow for a larger space, which means more students can take advantage of the program, and will provide opportunities for them to network with local businesses. Students in the program, who have not found a path to success in the regular instruction program, spend half their time in the classroom and half in a job setting. This option allows more of these youth to graduate with a high school diploma ”“ giving them a significant leg up on those who don’t graduate ”“ and also gives them real-world job skills. Hopefully, this new location will give them an opportunity to learn more about the world of work than they could have on the BHS campus. The businesses and education commissioner are excited about the program, and we are, too.

Thumbs up to the volunteers from Curtis Lake Christian Church who helped plant 10 new Valley Forge American elms along Main Street in Sanford a couple of weekends ago. The plantings were made possible through a matching grant from Project Canopy, which promotes the introduction of trees into public spaces, and was attached to a generous donation of several maple trees by Springvale residents David and Linda Pence made last year, which were planted along Main Street in front of Sanford Junior High School. Trees provide shade, reduce air pollution and give urban areas a softer, friendlier feel that’s inviting for shoppers and visitors. All of those who had a hand in this project are to be commended for brightening Sanford’s downtown district.

Thumbs up to the Kennebunk Police Department’s new program, “Coffee with the Chief,” in which Chief Robert MacKenzie will host monthly sit-downs with residents to discuss the law and any concerns they may have. This kind of open communication with the department’s leader is a great opportunity for residents to learn about the law and law enforcement, and share their ideas to make the town safer. Those who attend will also be updated on police goals, priorities and resources, crime trends, safety considerations, and criminal and motor vehicle law clarifications, making them feel more connected with their community and giving them a better understanding of the department’s role. Like the citizen police academies that have become popular recently, this program gives citizens a glimpse into police work, but “Coffee with the Chief” is more casual, drop-in program that will be easily accessible to everyone.

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Thumbnails is a Monday feature of the Journal Tribune’s opinion pages. If you want to respond, feel free to write to the Readers’ Forum via email at jtcommunity@journaltribune.com or by dropping your letter off at our Biddeford or Sanford offices.