Last Friday night, Burlington once again came together as a community in support of a worthwhile cause. On this night, it was the Light the Night Walk in memory of those who were lost to blood cancers and in support of those who have survived. Burlington never ceases to amaze me with the size of its heart and the lengths it will go to support the needy, the troubled, the disadvantaged, and those to whom life has thrown some lousy curve balls. I cannot think of an event that the community has not turned out for.

In all of the ceremony and solemnity that surrounds these events there are some folks who get lost in the shuffle. We tend to forget the city employees that control traffic, that also work with organizers to secure permits, that work with merchants to ensure that commerce and remembrance can co-exist. Often we see those who walk, row, bike or run but sometimes we don’t take the time to thanks the nameless onlookers that cheer and donate their spare change or cash as folks go by.

It is much easier to talk about the problems we face as a community. I am as guilty as the next person for that. However, it is times like this where it does us all well to reflect on the truly exceptional community that we live in. If you ever wonder why we are listed as “first” in so many indicators of community health, just remember the landscape as the Light the Night walk passed by.