PHILMONT—Village of Philmont Minkler-Seery Post 252, American Legion will remember those fallen veterans from all wars and conflicts, Monday, May 29.
The 76th annual parade will line up at 8:30 a.m. and the parade starts on upper Main Street at 9 a.m. The parade contains many more marchers this year. For the past two years the parade was shorted due to Covid- 19.
Leading the parade will be the Philmont Police, followed by the Minkler-Serry American Legion Post 252 Color Guard and Legion members. Taconic Hills combined band of Jr. High/High school members will supply the music. Also in the procession will be Town of Claverack and Village of Philmont elected officials, local Girl Scouts, Little Leaguers, Town of Claverack volunteer fire companies, High and Mighty Therapeutic Riding and Driving Center with some mini horses. Local veterans visit the stable for therapeutic physical, cognitive and emotional issues. The guest speaker will be Anne Macfarlane.
Born and raised in Philmont, Ms. Macfarlane is the daughter of John and Theresa Macfarlane. She enlisted in the Navy in July 1981 as an ocean systems technician analyst (OTA), attending bootcamp in Orlando, FL, and “A” school in Norfolk, VA. She rose through the ranks to chief petty officer before being commissioned a surface operations limited duty officer (LDO). Her service took her around the world to Iceland, Europe, Japan, and the Middle East to include duty as the combat information center officer aboard the U.S.S. John Young (DD 973) during a Middle East Force Deployment and the U.S. strategic commands representative to Central Command for Space during OEF/OIF. LCDR Macfarlane retired in February 2005 and is currently employed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in Chantilly, VA, where she is a project manager and chief systems engineer.
Across the Village, 28 new Home Town Hero Banners have been added to the 70 banners that were in place last year. Main Street and side streets in Philmont are filled with them. Minkler-Seery thanks Village of Philmont and the Town of Claverack DPW employees for the time and hard work in hanging these banners and American flags. The streets look great.
The American Legion has decorated about 960 graves with help from the Girl Scouts. Occasionally, graves sites are missed because the grave marker is no longer there. If a family member notices that a grave site has been missed they should contact Jeff French.
The American Legion asks everyone to display their American flag to show gratitude to veterans, and come and watch the parade and stop by Memorial Park on Main Street and take part in the program.
Other Memorial Day events follow:
ANCRAM
Cadby Shutts Post #7552, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Ancram Fire Company invite the public to participate in this year’s Roe Jan Area Memorial Day Parade, Monday, May 29.
Line up is at the Ancram Town Hall, 1416 County Route 7, at 10:30 a.m. with step off at 11 a.m.
Ceremony and refreshments follow at the Ancram Firehouse, 1306 County Route 7.
NEW LEBANON
New Lebanon recognizes Memorial Day.
The Memorial Day Parade kicks off from Shatford Park, 14665 State Route 22, Monday, May 29 with line-up at 8:30 a.m. and step-off at 9 a.m. Marchers file out onto Route 22 headed southeast past the junior-senior high school to Cemetery Road. The procession culminates at the Cemetery of the Evergreens, 382 Cemetery Road, where there is a solemn service including wreath placement, gun-salute and a guest speaker.
GERMANTOWN
The Town of Germantown hosts a Memorial Day Parade starting with a service at the Town Hall monument, 50 Palatine Park Road, to honor the men and women who died in service to the country at 9:30 a.m.
Marchers then head to the Reformed Church Cemetery to pay their respects at 10 a.m.
From there the procession moves down Main Street to Palatine Park for a picnic for families and participants.
The Germantown Central School marching band participates as do youth sports teams, Boy and Girl Scouts, many local civic organizations and businesses, Town officials, and the fire and police departments—plus horse drawn wagons and equestrians.
HUDSON
The Hudson Memorial Day Parade steps off from Seventh Street Park, Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m.
The parade moves down Warren Street to Fourth Street and heads across to the Courthouse Park on Union Street.
Master of Ceremonies is past commander, Hudson American Legion Post #184 Edward P. Coons, Sr.
Ceremonies include:
*Introductions of American Legion Post #184 Commander Eric DeKraai, Hudson VFW Commander Joseph Drabick
*The Hudson High School Band under the direction of Scott Vorwald plays the National Anthem, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance
*Invocation by American Legion Post #184 Chaplain, Jaron Halsted
*Remarks by Mayor Kamal Johnson, City of Hudson
*Introduction of guest speaker former United States Navy, Senior Chief Petty Officer Malcolm W. Nance
*Hudson High Band plays “The Navy Hymn”
*The “Gettysburg Address”, written by President Abraham Lincoln, November 19, 1863 recited by Zach Zibella, Eagle Scout and Hudson High School band member.
*The poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by Canadian doctor and teacher, Lt. Col. John McCrae, 1915, recited by Whitney Reed Hudson High School band member
*Vocalist Michael Hofmann sings “God Bless America”
*Introduction of Hendrick Hudson Chapter National Society DAR, and Services for Veteran’s committee, Chapter Regent Virginia Martin to place wreath at the memorial *Remembrance: World War II T/4 Arthur J. Whitbeck, a Buffalo Soldier, introduction of family and presentation of the Certificate of Honor
*Reading of names of Columbia County veterans who died in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Beirut, Iraq, and Afghanistan.
*Benediction by American Legion Chaplain, Pastor Halsted
*Post #184 Firing Squad, rifle salute
*Hudson High School trumpeters will play “Taps”
*Closing remarks, “Today, we celebrate America’s veterans for keeping this nation, the land of the free and the home of the brave.” President John Fitzgerald Kennedy once said: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.”
Military tradition is focus of May 29 talk
NEW LEBANON—The Lebanon Valley Historical Society hosts a program with a special guest, Captain Richard “Dick” Pusateri, Chaplain Corps, Memorial Day, May 29 at 2 p.m. at the New Lebanon Town Hall, 14755 State Route 22.
The idea of having this program on Memorial Day is to shine a light on a very old (1775) tradition in the U.S. military and an important part of all branches today, and one which is largely unknown to people who have not served.
Captain Richard (Dick) Pusateri, Chaplain Corps, of the United States Navy retired after 30 years active duty service in the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, three-years-service in combat operation with the U.S. Marine forces in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He served as senior chaplain for Marine Corps Central Command combat forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, 2005-2009 and is a United Methodist minister.
Captain Pusateri, from his local background and breadth of service is uniquely qualified to speak on this subject. The LVHS will also be screening the documentary film, “The Four Chaplains” detailing the heroism of four military men of God during World War II. Refreshments will be served.
