Newburgh hosts annual Memorial Day observance

By Alberto Gilman
Posted 5/31/23

The annual City of Newburgh Memorial Day Parade was celebrated on Monday, May 29 with American flags waving, men and women in uniform marching along in formation, service vehicles with lights …

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Newburgh hosts annual Memorial Day observance

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The annual City of Newburgh Memorial Day Parade was celebrated on Monday, May 29 with American flags waving, men and women in uniform marching along in formation, service vehicles with lights flashing and bands playing as they marched down Broadway. Many thanks were given to the efforts and planning of Regina Angelo, Brian Denniston and other supporters to make the parade possible.

Starting from West Street, the first division of the city parade featured the 105th Airlift Wing, Air National Honor Guard and first time Grand Marshal Ray Harvey. Harvey served in the United States Army and achieved the rank of E-4 [Army Specialist].“It’s an honor to be asked to be the grand marshal to the City of Newburgh parade,” said Harvey. “We [Americans] owe them [veterans] everything.”

Following Harvey were cars honoring deceased veterans Thomas Walsh, a Coast Guard member and City of Newburgh Fireman; William Lynch, a deceased veteran, WWII Army Medic in Germany and City of Newburgh Sanitation Worker; John J. Dockstader; and World War II Veteran Charles Leo. Veterans Faye Allen-Miles and Leon Carpenter also joined in their vehicles in the parade. City of Newburgh elected officials such as Councilmen Anthony Grice and Omari Shakur and Councilwomen Giselle Martinez and Ramona Monteverde, Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, City Chief of Staff Mike Neppl, Pastor RD McLymore and Orange County Legislator Genesis Ramos also joined in the parade festivities. “It’s Memorial Day here in the City of Newburgh, and I’m super proud to have been able to join the parade and have been able to be part of this year’s festivities,” said Ramos. “I want to give a shout out to Regina Angelo and Brian Dennison for putting this together and all the hard work that they do.” City of Newburgh Fire Department trucks and the San Miguel Academy Rowing Team followed to conclude.
The second parade division featured a Purple Heart Float, cadets from the Newburgh Free Academy Air Force JROTC, Professional Musicians of Orange County, the Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church, WHUD, City of Newburgh Police Relations and Review Board, Papaleo’s Auto Body, Inc, Hook Elite Boxing Ministry, St. Nicholas Greek Church, Masada Lodge #115, Best Resources Center, Inc. and Newburgh Steelers Youth Football & Cheer. The third division featured the United States Marine Corps Color Guard, the Temple Hill School Drumline, React Inc., Horizons-on-Hudson Magnet School, Scout Troop 327 Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, The V.I.P. Pearls of Orange County, New York, Puma Soccer Club, Julian’s Auto, Mobile Life, Church of God marchers and motorcycles and the Hudson Valley Wings - New York Chapter X Motorcycle Group. At the conclusion of the parade which ended at Washington’s Headquarters on Liberty Street, a service to honor deceased veterans took place.

The service at Washington’s Headquarters followed other Memorial Day observances including a flag distribution at the Newburgh Activity Center on May 27 to decorate the graves of deceased veterans and Memorial Day observances concluded with the reading of the names of all deceased veterans since World War I at the Orange County Veterans Memorial, near the intersection of Leroy Place and Liberty Street.