Residents and veterans of the Town of Newburgh gathered together to remember and honor those who have passed on Memorial Day before enjoying the celebration of the parade later in the afternoon.

On the morning of Sunday, May 29, a crowd of residents, veterans and town officials gathered at J. Malone Bannan Memorial Building, the town hall, for a brief ceremony in honor of Memorial Day. American Legion Post 1420 Commander Duane Mickle led the proceedings of the ceremony and welcomed those who came out to remember this special day.

Members of Boy Scout Troop 4027 followed by the Town of Newburgh Police presented the colors to mark the beginning of the ceremony. Councilwoman Betty Greene proceeded and led the crowd in the singing of God Bless America by American composer Irving Berlin.

Following the song, Mickle introduced those in attendance which included Town Supervisor Gil Piaquadio, town board members Scott Manley, Anthony LoBiondo, Paul Ruggiero and Greene, Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson, Police Chief Bruce Campbell, Orange County Legislator Leigh Benton and other officials present.
Members of Post 1420, Cronomer Valley Fire Department, Goodwill Fire Department, Lady Auxiliary members, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post 973 and 1161, Marine Corps League, the Town of Newburgh Police, Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club and other veterans and residents were also in attendance for the ceremony.

During the course of the ceremony, Mickle called one by one each of the present organizations to place a wreath on behalf of them at the memorial in front of town hall. The stone marker that stands in front of town hall displays an eagle with outstretched wings with an inscription written in the stone to remember those fallen.

At the conclusion of the wreath placements, a firing squad fired their weapons three times followed by the playing of Taps on the bugle.

Donna Yurista, a Gold Star Mother, was welcomed to the podium as the guest speaker for the ceremony. A Gold Star Mother is a mother who has lost a child to war.

Holding back tears, Yurista spoke during the course of her remarks about her son who had died in combat overseas and the difficulties of that loss. She shared that while he is no longer here, she continues to honor his memory through her service and remembers him not just on Memorial Day, but every day.

Yurista concluded with asking those in the crowd to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday and ended with a quote from American General George Patton. “It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died, rather we should thank God they lived,” Yurista said.

Additional words came from the ladies auxiliary and Jacobson at the podium and soon after, the retirement of the colors concluded the ceremony for the morning.
At 1 p.m. later in the afternoon, various vehicles and floats lined up at the American Legion Post building on Union Avenue on Route 300 in preparation for the parade. The parade made its way down Union Avenue and made a left onto Route 52, a left onto Powder Mill Road and ended at Cronomer/Algonquin Park.

Retired Air Force veteran Bob Quakenbush of Cronomer Valley Fire Department shared his thoughts on the Memorial Day celebration prior to the parade.

“It’s an honor to come out and give homage to our vets who have died for this county and all the people behind them and their families who have suffered and made us have the freedom that we have today,” Quakenbush said.

Quakenbush said he was thankful for the community to be a part of the celebration but also emphasized the importance of remembering what the meaning of the holiday is for many people.

“I knew I was going into the service,” said Retired United States Army Sgt. John Masten. “I served 33 years and one year was in Southeast Asia and I’ll never regret it.”

Masten of Newburgh watched the trucks and groups go by along Union Avenue and shared he was thankful for all those who came out to respect and honor this holiday. “It’s proper respect,” Masten said. “God Bless America.”

With the importance of Memorial Day, Masten shared that he wishes to see the importance of Memorial Day taught more in schools and to remember those active personnel and those who are in rehabilitation.

This years lineup for the parade included Town of Newburgh Police, Newburgh Free Academy Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps [JROTC] Color Guards, Grand Marshal Hal Tragis, American Legion Guards Troop 27, American Legion Post 1420, American Legion 1420 Auxiliary, a trolley with several officials and personnel, NAM Knights Motorcycle Club, Heritage Middle School Marching Band, the 124th NYSV Company H also known as the Orange Blossoms, town officials, Town of Newburgh Animal Control, Coldenham Fire Company, Goodwill Fire Company, boys and girl scouts, Plattekill Fire Department, Middlehope Fire Department, Dan Leghorn/Winona Lake Engine Company, Town of Newburgh Emergency Medical Services, 1st Independent Realty Group, Lighthouse Bible Baptist Church, Cronomer Valley Fire Department and additional police.