Thoughts on Memorial Day

What Does Memorial Day Mean to You?

We asked that question in and around  Greenberry's coffee  shop in downtown McLean Sunday afternoon.

Nathan Portnoy, 29th Infantry Division, will go to Iraq the end of the summer, 2007 McLean High School graduate: "It didn't mean much to me until I enlisted. . . It makes you feel important. . . because I'm part of the bigger pictures. I enlisted because I wanted to be part of the bigger picture and because I wanted to help."

Katie Campos, finishing her freshman year at Northern Virginia Community College and Greenberry's barrister: "It's a day when we celebrate people who died for the country. We celebrate their lives."

Syed M. Qadri, of Alexandria, who works at the men's store in downtown McLean: "It's kind of a celebration of independence and also it's a remembrance to all the people who sacrificed their lives for the cause of freedom. . . We celebrate this day in the name of those great ancestors because we have independence and freedom."

Kristen Peterson, of Arlington. Both her grandparents served in World War II: "I think of parades in small towns honoring veterans and community."

Ron Elkayam, of McLean: "It is time to reflect on the people who served our country. It's also a time to relax with family and friends."