On a bright, sunny Friday afternoon, school children across Martha’s Vineyard participated in Memorial Day ceremonies meant to honor those lost in service to the nation.

In Vineyard Haven, family members, residents and business people lined Main Street, as they have for generations, and offered encouraging applause as Tisbury School students and teachers marched along the road on their way to Owen Park wearing colorful hats and waving flags to the accompaniment of the school band.

A line of students walked down to the dock where one by one they tossed flowers into the sea. With students and faculty members gathered around the flagpole in Owen Park, Tisbury School principal John Custer spoke about one member of the community missing from the observance, Meverill Good, a veteran of the 10th Mountain Division, who died on February 9 at the age of 91.

“For many years, Mr. Good participated in our March to the Sea ceremony,” Mr. Custer said. “He spoke to everyone in attendance, but was particularly interested in delivering messages to students. Mr. Good reminded us to not take for granted what we have, and to appreciate the benefits of living in a free country that provides so many wonderful opportunities … Our community misses him, but we remember him fondly.  Certainly, this Memorial Day, we include him in our thoughts.”

As bouquets floated out to sea Jennifer Balbino, an eighth grade student, sang the Star Spangled banner and the flag was lowered to half staff.

The smiles and gaily colored hats of the younger kids provided a contrast to the somber significance of the ceremony.

The meaning of the day was not lost on Fred “Ted” Morgan, the guest speaker for a Memorial Day ceremony at Memorial Wharf in Edgartown hosted by the Edgartown School.

Mr. Morgan spoke to the students about the meaning of service to the nation and the community. It is a subject he is well qualified to speak about in length.

A native of Edgartown, at 19 years of age Mr. Morgan entered the Army during World War II and served as a medic as a member of the 82nd Airborne’s 505th parachute infantry regiment. Before the war ended he would make four combat jumps and fight in Sicily, Holland, the Battle of the Bulge, and Normandy.

He served on the Edgartown board of selectmen for  31 years, various town and Island-wide committees.

The ceremony concluded with students tossing flowers from Memorial Wharf into Edgartown harbor.