Making preparations for Windham Veterans Day took up most the time last week and I don’t think I watched the news once. National or local. But I do know that one of America’s most eloquent, honest and elegant newsmen has passed away: Ed Bradley.

I’ve been watching and learning from Ed Bradley from his young, Afro-wearing days until just a couple of weeks ago and watched him grow gray along with the rest of us.

And the other major news story of the week, in my opinion, was that a southern Maine columnist finally wrote about the Harrington, Maine wreath-making firm and its volunteers who decorate Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. each year, providing a wreath for every gravestone. In typical Downeast fashion, they do this free of charge and that includes trucking them down there. Downeast, in Washington County, the poorest section of our state, there are many, many people who volunteer for this project, year in and year out.

If you have never been treated to this beautiful scene, row upon row of Maine evergreen, red ribbon against a stark white grave marker, you should check it out on the Web. (Just type “wreaths at Arlington Cemetery.”) This project, done year after year, personifies Maine and her people.

Proud to be an American, the song and the feeling, were evident at Nov. 11’s Veterans Day commemoration in Windham. The weather was fine and the speeches very interesting and not too long. I never knew our former superintendent of schools, Gary Moore, was a veteran! I wish everyone who voted in Windham last week had attended this honor service and learned firsthand why they are able to vote in an open election. We can be proud of our heritage and must never forget the men and women of our military who make that heritage and freedom possible.

All of the delicious food was donated and preparing the buffet was done by volunteers. I want to thank Wal-Mart, Hannaford and Shaw’s for their monetary donations and in particular, as the “food chairperson,” I particularly want to thank my old school chums, Sandra Vacchiano and Norma Rogers; and Dave at Thatcher’s who never lets us down; Diane Aldrich, Ellen Jordan and all the others who baked goodies for us. Thanks to vets John Cooper, Dave Tanguay, John Boyden and all the others who helped. This is what a community effort can accomplish.

Next project: Open House & Gift Sale at the Windham Historical Society, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18. Stop in at the 1833 brick original town house on Windham Center Road and visit with us. Have a snack, a cup of coffee or punch. And be sure to drop in at the book sale at the library just up the road.

See you next week.