Dutchess County Organizes Memorial Day Convoy

Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and Marc Coviello, Director of the Dutchess County Division of Veterans’ Services, have organized a convoy of county, police, fire and local municipality vehicles to traverse Dutchess County as part of this year’s Memorial Day celebrations on Monday, May 25th. 

County Executive Molinaro said, “Generations of brave men and women have protected this great nation, far too many of whom made the supreme sacrifice in defense of our country. Just because we are physically distancing ourselves from one another during these strange times, doesn’t mean we can’t honor these courageous servicemembers who died to keep America safe. Nothing will stop us from honoring their legacies this Memorial Day.” 

On Monday, May 25th, after laying wreaths at the Dutchess County War Memorial, the Memorial Day Convoy will depart at 11am escorted by Dutchess County Sheriff’s vehicles that will be decorated by Leah Eddington, a local artist. City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department vehicles will join as the Memorial Day Convoy travels down Main Street, taking Route 9 south. 

The route is as follows:

1. Main Street in Poughkeepsie to Route 9,
2. Travel south down Route 9 From Poughkeepsie to Wappingers & Fishkill,
3. Take Route 52 to East Fishkill,
4. Follow Route 82 from Fishkill to East Fishkill taking 376 into Hopewell Junction,
5. Beekman road from Hopewell Junction to Beekman,
6. Route 55 out to Pawling
7. Route 22/343/44 to from Pawling through Dover/Amenia and up to Millerton, 
8. Route 199  to Pine Plains and Milan to Red Hook, and finally;
9. Route 9 back down to Poughkeepsie, coming through Rhinebeck and Hyde Park.

As it travels throughout the county, each municipality will have official vehicles join the Memorial Day Convoy as it travels through their respective borders. 

Residents are asked to please not gather in large group settings to watch the Memorial Day Convoy. To show support, residents are instead encouraged hang American flags along the convoy’s route. For those families who live along the route, children are encouraged to paint and draw flags to be dis-played in their windows, or on driveways. 

Because of the COVID-19 global pandemic, most of the traditional Memorial Day celebrations have been cancelled or will not be open to the public. Many municipalities, local VFW, and American Legion posts have chosen to hold private ceremonies to honor our servicemen and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, as well as join the Memorial Day Convoy.

For more information, contact Dutchess County Division of Veterans Services at (845) 486-2060 or visit dutchessny.gov/veterans.

Dutchess County Government continues to provide residents the most current information on its COVID-19 Community Impact Dashboard, as well as guidance on its website, dutchessny.gov/coronavirus, its Coronavirus hotline, (845) 486-3555, and its Facebook and Twitter accounts.