Thank you for carrying on

A group of friends gathered on a recent wet Saturday afternoon to wish a local World War II veteran Happy Birthday in his front yard. The well wishes for the widower came at a distance, but were no less welcome.

On another afternoon, neighbors gathered to surprise a woman for her 58th birthday, arriving by golf cart and car, traveling both from next door, and a few towns over. Again it was done from a distance, but with no less joy than a traditional celebration.

Strangers have volunteered to “adopt” seniors in multiple area school districts to provide words of encouragement and help the teens mark a milestone that has been delayed.

Volunteers gathered hundreds of pounds of pet food to distribute to owners in the area who might be struggling right now.

And many others are making sure children and seniors are fed at a time when schools are shut down and those with more fragile health must stay home.

Some say our world stopped in March with the threat of COVID-19.

But that’s simply not true.

We have continued to celebrate with each other, sharing our big moments and small in new ways.

And we have continued to help each other, reaching out with kindness and generosity.

As we prepare to reopen the state next week, we know that our fight against this coronavirus isn’t over. There are still precautions that must be taken, and vigilance that must be practiced.

But we wanted to take a moment to recognize our friends and neighbors, to celebrate the good you have done and the way our region has carried on.

Thank you.

— Daily American Republic