Memorial Day Community Observances

Poughkeepsie...Memorial Day is Monday, May 30th.  Dutchess County Executive William R. Steinhaus and Veterans Services Director Nelson Eddy Rivera, USN (Ret) encourage residents to remember the sacrifices of veterans who have died in service to our country and participate in the many Memorial Day ceremonies and parades taking place across the county.  There will be National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. in honor of those who have died to defend our freedom. 

“On Memorial Day, we remember the ultimate sacrifice of those who have died in service to our country, we say thank you to all those who have returned home, and we pray for those who are still abroad protecting our freedom.” said County Executive Steinhaus.  “I hope every Dutchess County resident will make the time to participate in one of the many community observances and stop to pause for the Moment of Remembrance, so we can all honor those who have sacrificed for our country.”

The National Moment of Remembrance is an act of national unity to honor America’s fallen. All citizens, alone or with family and friends, wherever they are at 3 p.m., are asked to pause for a Moment of reflection honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. The goal is to put “Memorial” back into Memorial Day.   A Gallup poll indicated that only 28 percent of Americans realize the true meaning of the holiday. 

The Moment of Remembrance is not meant to replace traditional Memorial Day ceremonies or events. It is an act of remembrance to celebrate the lives of those who died and an opportunity for citizens to rededicate themselves to giving back to America in their memory.

The Dutchess County Division of Veteran Services reached out to local municipalities and community organizations and has compiled a listing of ceremonies and parades happening over the Memorial Day holiday weekend.   The events listing follows below with contact information for further inquiries.

“We are so proud of the men and women of Dutchess County who have stepped up to serve our country.   My hope is people will take the time to remember, reflect and honor those who have given their all in service to their country,” said Dutchess County Veterans Services Director Nelson Eddy Rivera, USN (Ret).

2011 Memorial Day
Community Observances
(Based on information provided by municipalities and community organizations.)
Listed by date, then alphabetically by municipality

Castle Point VA Hospital:
Thursday, May 26, 2011, 2:00 P.M.                           
Ceremony: Castle Point Campus, River Memorial Garden                                                  
Guest Speaker: Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith, Brigadier General, US Army (Ret.)
Contact: Yvette Rodriguez, 845-831-2000 ext. 5135

New Hamburg:
Saturday, May 28, 2011, 10:00 A.M.                                                                          
Ceremony: 15 Channingville Rd., Wappingers Falls                                                          
Hosted by: New Hamburg Engine #1                                                                                  
Contact: Mehmet Gokcay, 914-584-0647

Milan: 
Sunday, May 29, 2011, 12:00 P.M.
Parade & Ceremony & Refreshments
Town Hall, 20 Wilcox Circle, Milan (Off Rt. 199 near the Taconic Pkwy)
Hosted by: Town Of Milan/Milan Veterans Committee
Contact: Tim Williams, 845-876-3158 or Bill Gallagher, 845-758-5133 ext 28

Pawling Village:
Sunday, May 29, 2011, 2:00 P.M.                                                                                                   
Memorial Service – outdoors                                                                                                      
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 22 Coulter Ave.
Contact: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 845-855-5276

Poughkeepsie City:
Sunday May 29, 2011, 2:00 P.M.
Memorial Service: Soldiers Fountain 
Hosted by: American Legion Post 37
Contact: James Davis 845-485-5435

Amenia:     
Monday, May 30, 2011, 10:30 A.M.                                                                                 
Parade: starts at 10:30 A.M., Line up 10:00 A.M. at Amenia Firehouse.                               
All Veterans welcome to march.                                                                                     
Ceremony: starts at 11:00 A.M. at Fountain Square - Intersections of Rt. 22 & 44 near M&T Bank
Hosted by: Amenia Fire Company and VFW Post 5444                                                  
Contacts: Wayne Euvrard, 845-373-8860 x 105
Chuck Mayville,  845-877-3734
VFW Post 5444, 845-877-6300

Beacon:
Monday, May 30, 2011, 10:00 A.M.                                                                                  
Parade: at 10:00 A.M., starts in front of City Hall                                                        
Ceremony: at 11:00 A.M., Memorial Hall                            
Hosted by: Beacon Post 203                                                                                                 
Contact: Adjutant Louis Humphreys @ 845-569-1494

Beekman:
Monday, May 30, 2011, 10:00 A.M.
Parade: line up at 9:30 A.M. at Clove Excavators parking lot on Rt. 216
Ceremony: laying of the wreath to be conducted at the Town Hall immediately following the parade.    
Hosted by: Town of Beekman
Contact: Ginny Ward, 845-724-5300 ext 221 or Melinda Magill,  845-724-5300 ext 222

East Fishkill:
Monday, May 30, 2011, 11:00 A.M.
Parade:  line up at the Community Center at 10:15 A.M., march to the Veteran's Memorial at the Jct. of Beekman Rd. & Rt. 82 at 10:45 A.M.
Ceremony/Service at Veterans Memorial located at the junction of Route 82 and Beekman Road at 11:00 A.M.
Guest Speaker:  Douglas A. McHoul, a United States Marine Corps Veteran and retired Dutchess County Commissioner of Personnel.    Event marks Mr. McHoul's 40th consecutive year as speaker for this event since 1971
Contact: Doug McHoul,  787-741-8449

Fishkill Village:              
Monday, May 30, 2011, 10:00 A.M.                                                                                            
Parade:  starts at Church St. and proceeds down Main Street in the Village of Fishkill Ceremony: held at Monument Square located at Broad St. and Main St.                          
Hosted by: Village of Fishkill and VFW Post 1286     
Contact: Rad Wilson or Angela Arasim, Village Clerk, 845-897-4430

Hyde Park: 
Monday, May 30, 2011, 10:00 A.M.                                                                                
Parade: starts at the Roosevelt Cinemas and heads north on Rt. 9 to the Hyde Park Library, left onto Main St., down to the intersection of Park Pl.                          
Ceremony: following the parade, Memorial Day Service held at the Hyde Park Town Hall, 4383 Albany Post Rd., Hyde Park, NY 12538 on the South side of the property.           
Hosted by: Town of Hyde Park                                                                                                   
Contact: Diane Cullen in the Recreation Office, 845-229-8086 ext 4.

LaGrange:   
Monday, May 30, 2011, 10:45 A.M.                                                                                      
Ceremony: Town of LaGrange Town Hall, 120 Stringham Rd., LaGrangeville, NY      
Hosted by: Town of LaGrange                                                                                                
Contact: Kathy Kowgios, 845-452-9064 or Jon Wagner, 845-264-3571          

Millbrook: 
Monday, May 30, 2011, 10:00 A.M.
Parade: Route is down Franklin Ave. in Millbrook
Ceremony: takes place at the Tribute Gardens at the foot of the avenue immediately after the parade, and includes a speech by a guest speaker, and the reading of the list of Millbrook’s soldiers who died in combat. 
Hosted by:  Millbrook VFW Post 9008
Contact number: 845-392-4911

Pawling:
Monday, May 30, 2011, 10:00 A.M.                                                                                        
Parade: line up at 9:30 A.M. at Memorial Ave., step off at 10:00 A.M.                          
Ceremony: dedication of the new Veterans Memorial Plaza, West Main St. and Charles Coleman Blvd. with Special Guest Speaker                                                            
Hosted by: Hasler-Kamp, Post 215 American Legion of Pawling                                    
Contact: Commander Jerry Christiansen, 845-855-5274

Pleasant Valley:
Monday, May 30, 2011, 11:00 A.M.                                                                           
Ceremony: Pleasant Valley Memorial Park Corner of Rt. 44 and South Ave.             
Guest Speaker: Tom Sipos                                                                                                     
Contact: Carl Rennia, 845-635-2626

Poughkeepsie City: 
Monday, May 30, 2011, 7:00 P.M.
Ceremony: Manor at Woodside – Academy St.
Hosted by: American Legion Post 37
Contact: James Davis 845-485-5435

Poughkeepsie Town:
Monday, May 30, 2011, 9:30 A.M.                                                                          
Ceremony: Dutchess County War Memorial – corner Raymond Ave. and Main St. Hosted by: The Dutchess County War Memorial Committee                                             
Contact: Nelson Eddy Rivera, 845-486-2060

Red Hook:           
Monday, May 30, 2011, 10:00 A.M.                                                                                    
Parade: followed by ceremony at Red Hook Memorial Park                                              
Village of Red Hook Memorial Park – North Broadway (Rt. 9)
Hosted by: Red Hook VFW Post 7765
Contact: Bill Moore, 845-758-8175

Rhinebeck:
Monday, May 30, 2011, 9:15 A.M.
Ceremony: will begin at 9:15 A.M. in the hamlet of Rhinecliff. The American Legion Firing Squad commanded by Dennis McGuire will salute the honored dead followed by a brief flag raising.
Parade: line up at 9:30 A.M. at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds. Parade begins at the corner of Mulberry St. and Platt Ave.  Step off promptly at 10:30 A.M. down Mulberry St. to East Market St., where there will be flag raisings at the Village and Town Halls simultaneously and a wreath-laying ceremony at the Doughboy Statue. Parade, led by the Rhinebeck High School Band, will proceed south on Rt. 9 where there will be a flag raising at the U.S. Post Office before ending at the Rhinebeck Cemetery. Memorial Services to be held at cemetery, followed by wreath laying at the Civil War Monument, and flag raisings at the Legion Park and the Legion Home on Mill St., where refreshments will be served.
Guest Speaker: James Reardon, Mayor, Village of Rhinebeck
Hosted by: The American Legion Post #429                                                                     
Contact: Wayne Rifenburgh, 845-876-7376 or 845-876-4429

Rhinecliff:    
Monday, May 30, 2011, 9:15 A.M.                                                                                       
Ceremony: Rhinecliff War Memorial – Intersection of Shatzell Ave. and Kelly St.                
Hosted by: Rhinecliff Fire Department                                                                               
Contact: Chief Bill Cotting, 845-849-5223

Stanford:
Monday, May 30, 2011, 9:00 A.M.                                                                                                            
Parade: starts at the Grange Hall on Rt. 82 and continues north on Rt. 82, up Hunns Lake Rd. to the Bangall Memorial in Bangall.                                                            
Ceremony: Bangall Memorial                                                                                                        
Hosted by: American Legion                                                                                                 
Contact: John Quinn, 845-868-7742

Union Vale:
Monday, May 30, 2011, 9:00 A.M.                                                                                               
Parade: begins at FireStation 1, Verbank, NY
Ceremony: On the Green, Verbank, NY
Hosted by: Union Vale Fire Company
Contact: Daniel Mc Morris, 845-677-0894 

Wappinger:
Monday, May 30, 2011, 2:00 P.M.
Ceremony: Schlathaus Park – Myer Corners Rd. and All Angels Hill Rd.
Hosted by: The Town of Wappinger
Point of Contact: Ralph Holt 845-297-0720

Wappingers Falls:
Monday, May 30, 2011, 11:00 A.M.
Ceremony: Mesier Park – East Main St.
Hosted by: VFW Post 5913 & American Legion Post 427
Contact: Raymond Chase 845-297-2943