Memorial Day in the Harlem Valley

HARLEM VALLEY — Residents around the region honored fallen soldiers and their service Monday morning, in recognition of Memorial Day, at ceremonies and parades in their hometowns. Millerton, North East, Amenia, Pine Plains — they all provided citizens a chance to say a silent thank you to veterans past and present as the local American Legions and VFWs organized events for adults and children to learn about and express their gratitude to this nation’s military.

Millerton/North East

American Legion Post 178 in Millerton produced its annual Memorial Day parade and ceremonies. The parade began at 10 a.m., with the formation moving from Century Boulevard to Main Street, where a large crowd had gathered to watch the procession. Veterans, the Millerton Fire Department, the Webutuck High School Band, Boy and Girl Scouts, the Millerton Little League team and others made their way down to Irondale Cemetery, where remarks were made by Lt. Sean Klay on remembering fallen soldiers.

The procession moved back to Veterans’ Park where an hour-long ceremony was held. Spc. Tyson Klay was the master of ceremonies for the event. The invited guest speaker was B.G. Stephen Wickstrom. Music was provided by Sara Costigan of Wassaic, who sang the National Anthem, students from the Webutuck School Band and members of the Junior Ladies Auxiliary Children’s Choir.

Special recognition was given to Ellen Buckley, a Millerton native who recently turned 100. She was honored for her service as a nurse in World War II. Tyson Klay was also presented with the American Legion Medal of Merit for being the Massachusetts Army National Guard 2009 Soldier of the Year.

Approximately 300 people attended the ceremonies. Following its conclusion, there was an open house lunch and children’s activities at the Legion Post Hall, where a $17,500 New Holland tractor was raffled off as one of the Legion’s fundraisers.

“People tend to forget those who died in previous wars,� Lois Naftulin said after the ceremonies as to why it’s important to celebrate Memorial Day. “It’s really important that they died for us.�

Amenia

Meanwhile, just south of Millerton, the ceremony in Amenia started at 11 a.m. at Fountain Square. Junior Vice of VFW 5444 Rick Butler led the ceremony, as he has done for many years, before a crowd of dozens. He spoke of the ideology for which the patriotic military personnel dedicated their lives.

“We must rededicate ourselves to the principles for which they lived and died,� Butler said. “Those who have given everything to this country... hold a special place in our hearts.�

Town Supervisor Wayne Euvrard spoke at the ceremony. He said the fallen deserve respect, just as veterans need support, now more than ever.

“As Americans we must pay tribute to those who perished [for our freedom],� he said. “We must insist every veteran has the opportunity for employment and a home... and we must vow that every veteran is treated with the respect they deserve.�

Councilwoman Victoria Perotti agreed; she emphasized why the town supports the Memorial Day ceremonies year after year.

“It’s important to honor our veterans and also all who have passed away defending us and also all of our brave troops around the world,� she said.

As is tradition, Amenia mainstay Betty Toombs sang “God Bless America,� and the crowd joined in. Boy Scouts Pack 29 also helped out; Scouts assisted with laying the wreaths at both ends of the square along with the veterans in charge.

Pine Plains

Meanwhile, just northwest of Amenia, in Pine Plains, a parade and ceremony were underway. The parade started off from the firehouse, as it does each year, and then made its way to the clocktower. The parade included veterans belonging to the American Legion and VFW, as well as the high school band, members of the hose company and other community groups. The ceremony is held at the town’s clocktower, which is where its veterans are listed on two memorial plaques. It’s also where the wreath of flowers is placed in honor of fallen veterans. After the ceremony at the clocktower, the parade restarted and headed up to the Evergreen Cemetery for a graveside ceremony and a gun salute.

As is the pattern in Pine Plains, there was a large turnout for the parade and people in the crowd waved their flags throughout the morning. Afterward it was back to the American Legion Hall to wind down the event. There was free food and drink for parade participants at the hall.

Town Supervisor Gregg Pulver spoke at the ceremony, along with Legionnaire George Keeler. Pulver also spoke before the event as to why the town values its veterans and the holiday so highly.

“It commemorates the ultimate sacrifice that somebody gives for their country,� he said. “A staggering amount of lives were given on our soil and off to keep the union strong, including the Civil War, and certainly our involvement in World War I and II, to Korea and Vietnam, and then the Gulf War and now recent history.

“We can relate to every loss of life. These men and women pay the ultimate sacrifice,� Pulver said. “The least we can do is recognize them one day a year.�

As far as the parade’s tradition, Pulver said the town has “always done it,� and would never consider missing it.

“Rain or shine, we’re going to have that service and parade and commemoration,� he said. “I see many people I see only once a year who come back for Memorial Day. It’s good to see. It’s Americana at its best, I guess.�