All right, so tell me what you tell me your name John Burns and Burns is spelled B-U-R-N-S
It's pretty obvious and you're a proctorian you live here in town. Yep all my life all
your life and John if if you could make up your own nickname right now what would that
be well they used to call me third degree because my last name was Burns right John
tell me about this car it's a 1928 model a Ford Roadster 90% original it was given to me
by my uncle back in the 80s and I retired five years ago and I rebuilt the thing from the frame
up had to look for a couple parts and I did everything myself except the paint had somebody
do the painting for me and this car this car is going to be a parade today yes
first what's your name I'm Sarah Peacore I go to Proctor senior high school and uh how would
you describe yourself in one word outstanding all right Memorial Day it's Memorial Day it's one
of america's uh three uh most patriotic holidays what does Memorial Day mean to you um I think
Memorial Day is all about respecting those who fought for our country because we wouldn't be here
without them we want to have our freedom without them so I think it's really good that we're here
respecting them and doing all this for them on a scale of one to ten how patriotic are you excited
and very very patriotic yeah what does Memorial Day mean to you I mean honoring them um soldiers
and men and women who have died in um in serving our country tell me about your grandfather he he
fought in the I found the I think it was a he fought in the Korean War on the but he was stationed
on the on the aircraft carrier at the midway yeah way um he was only commanding officers
and and they want to do one they want to do a turn and and he and he had to say reverse the engines
because him he was the one uh he was one of of three he was one of two people who could be on the
bridge at uh time it could be the captain the other commanding the other commanding the first
officer and then him and he saved the entire the entire carrier by saying reverse the engines
so as they were gone hit by one of the patrol trophy boats didn't didn't didn't realize that
they were going to all turn what's your grandfather's name tell me bill moss what would
he call you uh charlotte probably nice for your last name please p o m e r o y perfect okay tell me uh
what's your nickname uh charlie there's one word that would describe your sparkling personality
what would that be probably whimsical whimsical that's a good one tell me about Memorial Day
well Memorial Day is where we honor the men and women who died fighting for our country
that's Memorial Day and that's important because well so they're they didn't just die to die they
died and we remember that they died and that we honor them for it you know it's cowbell
the more important instrument in the entire band and uh how long you've been playing do not know
you don't know how long you have been playing a year one year yeah and you like it because
best pop and dress awesome yeah all right all right tell me about Memorial Day what brings
you out here today on such a rainy day don't know because to make my big sister proud
never be too much cowbell no thanks not just what brings you out today well this wonderful
Memorial Day parade you say loyalty day Memorial Day what is what is Memorial Day all about
what is it about it's about the people who have sacrificed for our country so we can
have the freedoms that we have and what are the freedoms what are what is the freedom that you
have that you enjoy the most you're looking at it this guy this guy tell me about Memorial Day
looks like you look like you're in the mood for celebrating oh yes we celebrate our freedoms
that we have um my husband is a vet and um sorry it makes me very emotional that uh the people
that have fought for our country and sacrificed for us to have our freedom of speech and to be able
to celebrate and out and feel safe in traveling our parade and just giving thanks to all of those
who have sacrificed our lives so that we could have the freedoms that we have today tell me
what is it that's special about this day well it's special because it's it's very special because
the people who fought and lost their lives to have let us have freedom in what we want to do so we
don't have to be bossed around and by other people and it's it's really it's really special
so you don't like to be bossed around nope not at all tell me this now you know you have an
inalienable right to pursue happiness according to the Declaration of Independence celebrated next
month what is the freedom that you enjoy the most what what what is it that gives you the most happiness
to be able to have friends and be able to choose the people i like to hang out with
and choose people who are nice to me and choose friends like like this person over here this is
your friend what's your name i'm clloe clloe what what is the freedom that you have that you enjoy
the most that i enjoy the most that you pursue the most um what is it that gives you the what is
it that makes you happy the thing that makes me happy is i think it will have friends like this
one over here and being able to have uh be able to live in america because we have a lot of freedom
here a lot of other places don't have the freedom that we have here your thing what is it about
memorial day that you like the most definitely creating around town you get to dress up crazy
let me ask you this now you have the freedom to pursue happiness in america that's your right
that's your inalienable right what is it what is it about living in america about living here
that you do in your life that makes you happy what makes you happy um well when i'm like around
family and to be able to have all of the rights that we have you're just right to life and to do
your everyday thing i mean we've got our world war two generation to thank for that uh my father
my father-in-law my uncle they were in the european theater in the pacific and thanks to them that we
can do things that we can today and uh what is it that what is it that makes you happy is john
your pursuit of happiness what is it that you pursue what is what is it what is it that makes
you happy i'm retired i'm able to do what i want i enjoy that what they do for veterans
and how they honor the veterans they haven't forgotten veterans
it's similar to john satz it's honoring those um and that gave their lives uh and and honoring
those that are still alive for the commitment they made to their country makes us all very proud
of them and to be part of any uh celebration that that that we can give them you look like you're
probably about my age uh you in vietnam uh yes yeah how long really uh 13 months 67 68
