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memorial day parade

All photos by Daniel Febrizio

On Memorial Day, May 29, hundreds of Smithtown residents gathered on Main Street to watch the 99th annual Memorial Day Parade marching westbound toward Town Hall where a short ceremony was held.

Parade participants included veterans, volunteer firefighters, high school bands, twirlers, Scouts and more.

After the singing of the National Anthem by a Smithtown West High School student at the ceremony, American Legion Post 833 Commander Bill Coderre said a few words to begin the ceremony. “On this memorial day, we are reminded that the rights and freedoms that we enjoy as Americans are possible in large part because of those who have protected our great nation through military service,” he said.

Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R) spoke, reading a Memorial Day speech honoring the lives lost in U.S.-involved wars throughout its history. The piece concluded with, “Remember all that has been sacrificed when you look around at your beautiful families, at your homes, your neighborhoods and your friends. Only then can we truly appreciate the incredible gifts that we have: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness.”

The ceremony concluded with a rendition of “God Bless America” while those in attendance sang along.

Other elected officials that spoke at the ceremony included state Sen. Mario Mattera (R-St. James), Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) and Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy (R).

Setauket residents and friends lined Main Street in East Setauket to cheer on the participants in the 2019 Memorial Day Parade organized by the Veterans of Foreign War Post 3054 May 27.

Under sunny skies, veterans, firefighters, Scouts, and the Ward Melville High School and R. C. Murphy bands marched from the Village Green to Se-Port Delicatessen.

As tradition, the parade kicked off with an opening ceremony at the Village Green and ended with a closing ceremony at East Setauket Memorial Park on Route 25A.

Veterans march in the 2017 Memorial Day Parade in Setauket. File photo by Rita J. Egan

The Veterans of Foreign Wars East Setauket Post 3054 will sponsor the annual Memorial Day Parade Monday, May 28, in East Setauket. The units will step off at 11 a.m. following a marching course along Main Street and Route 25A.

Opening ceremonies honoring the nation’s fallen heroes will be held at the Old Village Green opposite the Emma S. Clark Memorial Library and also at the memorial park along 25A at the conclusion of the parade.

Local officials and dignitaries are expected to join over 2,000 marchers for the event. Organizations wishing to participate in the parade can contact parade chairman Brian Denzler at the VFW Post 3054 at 631-751-5541 or at 831-277-8336.

The post is always seeking new members. Veterans are encouraged to contact Denzler at either of the above numbers.

Sound Beach residents observed Memorial Day and remembered the men and women lost at war on Monday. The Sound Beach Civic Association led a service at the Sound Beach Veterans Memorial Park in honor of their neighbors — William Binder, World War II; Stewart Carroll, World War II; Joseph DeGrennaro, Vietnam; Bruce Kerndl, Vietnam; Charles Prchal, Vietnam; Kerry Hein, Desert Storm; and Peter Hahn, Iraq — who died in the line of duty. Veterans and those still serving were also honored.

Middle Country Road in Centereach was decked out in red, white and blue on Sunday in honor of Memorial Day. Hundreds watched the vintage cars, marching bands, bagpipers, motorcycles, scouts and military and fire trucks at the hamlet’s Memorial Day parade, which was organized by the Centereach Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4927.