 |
| May 05, 2024 |
Welcome! Click here to Login
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Click to visit the
Official Town Site
|
|
|
|
|
|
General News: Memorial Day 2009 in Cornwall
|
| Members of the Armed Forces color guard kicked off the parade. |
|
| Bill Fulton placed the wreath on the World War I memorial. |
|
| People gathered in the village square to watch the parade. |
|
| Margaret Quinn found a way to wear her American flags. |
|
| The scout troops each carried colorful handmade banners. |
|
| The local fire departments at the memorial service. |
|
| Former Marines Betty and Chick Jurgens. |
May 26, 2009
Local residents came out to celebrate Memorial Day in Cornwall on Monday with a parade that marched down Hudson Street through the village, past Rings Pond to Main Street, then ended at the Veteran’s Memorial outside Cornwall Town Hall, where a commemorative service was held.
Members of the Armed Services – and their children -- led off the annual parade with a color guard. Right behind them, providing the soulful sound of pipes and drums, marched the MacLeods of Cornwall, followed by elected officials from the county, town and village and the local chiefs of police.
The parade stopped briefly at the Cornwall-on-Hudson Elementary School where veterans Bill Fulton, Abbey Mayer and Tom Quinlan laid a wreath on the memorial to soldiers from World War One.
A crowd awaited in the village square and along the parade route, where people applauded the band and cadets from the New York Military Academy and a new band who joined up this year, the Tappan Zee Men. The Civil War Troopers, dressed in period costumes, played their fife and drums in the rear of the march. The Stormy Weather Players also cruised by in the parade.
The Red Shirts from Cornwall-on-Hudson’s Storm King Fire Engine Company #2 filed past, followed by members of Highland Engine and Mountainville Fire Companies, some walking and some riding in their shiny, polished trucks. The boy scouts, cub scouts, girl scouts and Brownie troops were all represented and carried colorful banners announcing their den and troop names. The Cornwall Volunteer Ambulance Corps closed the parade.
At the service at Veteran’s Memorial, Jim Klein, the Commander of American Legion Post 353, welcomed the hundred or so people who had gathered and he introduced Commander Watts of the New York Military Academy, who addressed the crowd. Commander Watts noted that Cornwall was one of a shrinking number of communities that still honor the war dead at Memorial Day celebrations. He said that the holiday is a time for “respecting, honoring and living up to those who gave their lives to protect our freedom.”
Outgoing Orange County legislator Alan Seidman spoke, along with town of Cornwall superintendent Kevin Quigley. Cornwall-on-Hudson Mayor Joseph Gross read some of the words of the song “Grave” by Don McLean that spoke of a 20-year-old who answered the call and died. He also spoke of those village residents currently serving in the military and of Jimmy Milich, who never made it back from the Vietnam War.
The NYMA band played “God Bless America” and seven cadets shot off their rifles three times to honor the war dead. The police and fire departments laid wreaths at the memorial, along with World War II veterans Andrew Maroney and Bill Fulton. Betty Jurgens, a former Marine who served during the Korean War, laid a wreath, too.
The ceremony ended with the sound of “Taps” played by Abbey Mayer on trumpet.
Comments:
|
The correct spellings are Jim Kline and Abby Mayer. Both great men and a credit to the American Legion and Cornwall.
posted by Kevin Callahan on 05/26/09 at 2:34 PM
|
|
I extend my sincere appreciation to those who spent the time and energy to organize the Memorial Day celebration. A couple years back it was very disheartening to see so few turn out for such an important occasion. We had a pretty good crowd this year. I hope that people take to heart the words of Commander Watts and Mayor Gross. Acknowledging that the abundance we enjoy comes through the sacrifices of others is what keeps us humble and thankful. It goes something like this:"No greater love there is than this, that a man lay down his life for a friend."
posted by Kate Benson on 05/28/09 at 10:15 PM
|
Add a Comment:
Please signup or login to add a comment.
|
 |
|
|
|
