Ceremony

Today was full of ceremony.  It was my son's graduation from The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at The University of Vermont.  The day was breathtakingly beautiful, from the starting time of 8:00 a.m. all the way through to the last of the individual college ceremonies.  It was a good day.

Although I'm sure ceremonies can become tedious to those who must attend them often (like politicians), I no longer have many occasions to witness the pomp and circumstance, so I am free to fall in love with the music, the colors, the regalia, the speeches, and yes, even the cliches.  Today had all of these things and more.

The commencement address was delivered by Samantha Power, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations.  Not only is her resume replete with humanitarian works all around the globe (starting long before she was named ambassador in 2009), she is also an impressive speaker.  All ears were tuned in to her advice to the graduates (except, of course, for the idiot sitting twenty feet away from me who thought it would be fine for him to answer his cellphone and have a conversation while Power was still speaking).  Also speaking at the main ceremony was Peter Shumlin, Governor of the State of Vermont.  He was rightfully proud of the fact that just last week, Vermont became the first state in the nation to require GMO labeling on food.

And the speaker at The Rubenstein School ceremony was also impressive.  Paul Burns is the executive director of the Vermont Public Interest Research Group.  His speech also reflected how proud he is of his state.

There was another part of the ceremonies that brought tears to my eyes and the audience to its feet.  A diploma was awarded to Ben Mohla posthumously.  I've written about Ben in this blog before.  A housemate of my son's, Ben died in a car accident on his way home for Thanksgiving last fall.  Ben's parents attended the graduation to congratulate the boys of 307 Colchester Avenue.  Their love and respect for these boys was obvious.  When they took the stage to accept Ben's diploma, the applause was louder than that which any of the speakers had received.  Ben's dad raised the diploma over his head as he walked off the stage, and it was a moment I will never forget.  While a graduation ceremony is a meaningful ritual for most graduates and their families, I don't know if it can match the meaning it must have had for Ben's parents.  In all likelihood, this will be the last ceremony they will ever attend for Ben.  There will be no wedding ceremony, no baptisms of grandchildren, no birthday or anniversary celebrations.  It is with this in mind that I declare my love for ceremony and what it represents.  And for anyone who thinks of how boring ceremonies can be, consider that each one you attend could be the last.  And then make a conscious decision to fall in love with the ritual.