This weekend marks the unofficial beginning of the summer season. Many will be barbequing and gathering with family and friends, while others will be gardening or going to yard sales.
At Bethel Woods there is much talk over the Mysteryland Music Festival.
Snowbirds and secondary homeowners are once again arriving throughout Sullivan County, and our campers are not far behind.
Many tend to forget that Memorial Day is a time for remembrance of those who have died in our nation’s service. With all the military operations currently ongoing throughout the world, please take a moment to remember those who were killed in defending the freedom we often take for granted.
Unfortunately, traditional observance of Memorial Day has diminished over the years. To help re-educate and remind us of the true meaning of the day, the “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed by Congress in December 2000.
The resolution asks that at 3 PM on Monday, we “voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence”
In Sullivan County many noteworthy events will take place to salute those who have lost their lives in the line of combat.
The Sullivan County Veterans Service Agency is having their annual Memorial Day Service on Monday, May 26, 2014 at 1:00 p.m. at the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Sunset Lake Road in Liberty.
The Keynote Speaker will be Richard R. Keiser, Past NYS Commander, American Legion. Mr. Keiser was inducted in the NYS Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame in 2013.
Here is a Listing of Sullivan County Memorial Day Parades and Services
Monday, May 12 – Friday, May 16
Town of Mamakating: VFW Post 4947 will place flags on the following cemeteries: New Vernon, Bloomingburg Rural Free, Burlingham, Poplar Grove at Phillipsport. Cemetery services will be held at these cemeteries between 5/21 – 5/23.
Sunday, May 25
Woodridge: – 4:00 p.m. – Memorial Services at Veterans Park on Roosevelt Avenue in Woodridge. If it rains, we will meet in the Village Hall.
Bloomingburg: – 12:00 p.m – V.F.W. Post #4947 will have Memorial Day Services at the Bloomingburg Cemetery.
Tusten, Highland, Lumberland: VFW Post 6427 will have cemetery ceremonies to honor our deceased veterans at 11:00 a.m. – Lava Cemetery, 11:30 a.m. – St. Francis Cemetery, and 12:00 p.m. – Glen Cove Cemetery. 2:00 p.m. – Town of Tusten, Ceremony at the Old Tusten Church.
Monday, May 26
Forestburgh: 9:00 a.m. – “Memorial Day” Services will be conducted at the Veterans Triangle, Route 42 South, Forestburgh: Sponsored by the Town of Forestburgh, the American Legion, the Jewish War Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars…all locally based Monticello organizations. Refreshments to follow at the Pavilion. Master of Ceremonies – Al Etkin
Monticello: 10:30 a.m. – “Memorial Day” Services at the County Government Center, Monticello. The service is sponsored by the American Legion, the Jewish War Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, all Monticello organizations. Keynote Speaker will be Jane Wagner, Team Leader, Middletown Vet Center. Refreshments to follow at the Monticello Elks Lodge on North Street. All are invited. Master of Ceremonies: Al Etkin
Liberty: 10:00 a.m. – Line-up on West Liberty Street and North Main Street. On behalf of The Town of Liberty and Cpl. Russell D. Sprague American Legion Post #109, the Parade will start at 10:30 a.m. and travel through the business district in the Village of Liberty, proceed down Church Street, and end at the Liberty Veterans Cemetery on Cold Spring Road. At the cemetery, there will be a short service to honor our War Heroes. Guest Speaker will be the Hon. Harold Bauman.
County Service: Liberty: 1:00 p.m. – The Veterans Service Agency will provide a Memorial Day Service and Wreath Laying Ceremony at the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Sunset Lake Road, Liberty. The Keynote Speaker will be Richard R. Keiser, Past NYS Commander, American Legion. Mr. Keiser was inducted in the NYS Senate Veterans’ Hall of Fame in 2013. Master of Ceremonies: John Crotty
Wurtsboro: 1:00 p.m. – The American Legion Post #1266 will sponsor a Memorial Day Parade – (12:30 p.m. – Line-up on Pine Street in front of the Post). Parade will end at the Veterans Park in Wurtsboro. The Guest Speaker is Gary Greenwald: At the conclusion of the service there will be a BBQ at 92 Pine Street, the American Legion Home.
Town of Mamakating: V.F.W. Post #4947 Boy Scout breakfast – 7:00 a.m., Wurtsboro Community Church. Dedication at Summitville Fire House at 9:00 A.M. and finally joining in the Memorial Day Parade in Wurtsboro (hosted by American Legion 1266). Line-up is at 12:30 P.M. and we will step off at 1:00 P.M.
Bethel: 11:00 a.m. – Services at Town of Bethel Veterans Park, Kauneonga Lake. Flag Dedication will follow at the Bethel Senior Citizens Center.
Fremont Center: 130th Annual Fremont Center Memorial Day Parade: 9:00 a.m. promptly for line-up just above the Fremont Center Community Church. Special Memorial Service at New Veteran’s Park (next to town barn) at 9:30 a.m. The Parade route will be through Fremont Center to the baseball field.
Long Eddy: 1:00 p.m. – The Allan Milk Memorial Post #7276 will have services in Long Eddy Catholic Cemetery, luncheon to follow at Long Eddy Firehouse.
Obernburg: 3:00 p.m. – Services at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at County Rd. 95, refreshments to follow in Church Hall.
Neversink: 11:00 a.m. – Flag Ceremony at the Flag Pole, Grahamsville Rural Cemetery. Flag Exchange: Flag for Calvin Drown will come down and be exchanged for George Coombe’s Flag.
Eldred: 9:00 a.m. – American Legion Post #1363 will conduct a Memorial Service at Eldred Cemetery, Route 55.
Barryville: 9:30 a.m. – American Legion Post #1363 will conduct a Memorial Service at the Barryville Cemetery, Mail Road.
Glen Spey: 10:00 a.m. – American Legion Post #1363 will conduct a Memorial Service across from the Town Hall in Glen Spey.
Roscoe: Parade starts at 10:00 with the memorial Ceremony following immediately after at The Roscoe Fire House.
Livingston Manor: 10:00 a.m. Line-up at the Livingston Manor Firehouse, Parade starts at 10:30 a.m.
Purchasing a Red Poppy from a Veterans organization during Memorial Day weekend has become a tradition.
The Poppy as many are unaware, became associated with war after the publication of a poem written by Col. John McCrae of Canada. The poem, “In Flander’s Field,” describes blowing red fields among the battleground of the fallen.
In Flanders Fields
John McCrae, 1915.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
For more than 75 years, the Poppy program has raised millions of dollars in support of the welfare and the well being of the dependents of our fallen heroes.
God Bless the souls of those who have lost their lives for us.
Bill Liblick has made a name for himself of National TV Talk Shows where he spouted his outspoken views from the front row. Now he offers you his opinion every week in the “MOUTH THAT ROARS” Column in the Sullivan County Post