State Representative Matt Gabler, serving the 75th Legislative District of Pennsylvania, was guest speaker yesterday at the Memorial Day ceremony in the gazebo in front of the Elk County Courthouse.
Gabler, who expressed his appreciation for spending time in Ridgway on Memorial Day morning, discussed his beliefs regarding what the special day should mean for communities.
"We take a pause and think about those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country," Gabler said. "Really, it's difficult not to be proud to be an American."
As Main Street was lined with American flags and patrons wearing patriotic garb, Gabler said pride in the United States was evident on a local level.
"When we look around, we see we're surrounded by a friendly community, loved ones, and the American flag," Gabler said. "It really is an opportunity to stop and think.
"When I get up in the morning, I often times think about how honored and blessed I feel since I kind of serve a dual role."
A state representative, Gabler also is enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve.
"I get to be an Army Reservist, I get to do that on the weekends and I get to participate in the military and I'm also able to serve the community the rest of the week," Gabler said. "I think that, on this Memorial Day, it gives us all the opportunity to stop and pause and remember what happened in order to make it possible for us to be here today: the great men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to make lives possible, to make our way of life possible."
But with current trends in today's 'way of life,' Gabler said it is easy to forget patriotism.
"It's often times very easy to get distracted by the challenges that we face in everyday life and today, we certainly don't have a shortage of challenges," Gabler said. "We have plenty of concerns in our communities, our state, and our nation.