I rose early to enjoy a three-hour, 9-mile kayak tour of the Tenny River and Panther Pond. The water was glass flat and the sun diffused by soft clouds. Humans were mostly asleep while wildlife was not. I encountered a bald eagle, turtle, deer, loons, woodpeckers, and a variety of other birds as I explored the waters. I returned in time to join the others for breakfast before making the two-and-a-half-hour drive back to Concord. A lunch stop at Duckfat in Portland completed our gastronomic indulgence for the long weekend.

On this Memorial Day, I would like to add a note of appreciation to all of our nation’s veterans for their service to our country and for the sacrifices they have made on our behalf.