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.
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.
Sullivan County Memorial Day Parades and Services – 2016
Town of Mamakating: Shawanga Mountain VFW Post 4947 will place cemetery flags on the following cemeteries: New Vernon, Bloomingburg Rural Free, Burlingham, Poplar Grove at Phillipsport, and the Monument at the Phillipsport Community Center. Cemetery services will be held at these cemeteries between 5/24 – 5/26
Sunday, May 29
Woodridge: 4:00 p.m. – Memorial Service at Veterans Park on Roosevelt Avenue in Woodridge. If it rains, we will meet in the Village Hall.
Bloomingburg: 1:00 p.m. – The Village of Bloomingburg will host a Memorial Day Service at the Bloomingburg Cemetery. Shawanga Mountain V.F.W. Post 4947 will provide the cemetery service.
Tusten, Highland, Lumberland: VFW Post 6427 will have cemetery ceremonies to honor our deceased Veterans: 11:30 a.m. – Lava Cemetery, 12:00 p.m. – St. Francis Cemetery, 12:15 p.m. – Glen Cove Cemetery and 2:00 p.m. – Town of Tusten, – Ceremony at the Old Tusten Church.
Monday, May 30
Forestburgh: 9:00 a.m. “Memorial Day” Service will be conducted at the Veterans Triangle, Route 42 South, Forestburgh: Sponsored by the Town of Forestburgh. The American Legion, Jewish Veterans and The Veterans of Foreign Wars will participate in the Color Guard. Refreshments will follow at the Fireman’s Pavilion. Master of Ceremonies – Al Etkin
Monticello: 10:30 a.m. “Memorial Day” Service at the County Government Center, 100 North Street, Monticello. The service is sponsored by Ruddick-Trowbridge American Legion Post 73, Monticello, Jewish War Veterans Post 206, Monticello and Bailey-Richmond VFW Post 9588, Monticello. Our Keynote Speaker is the Hon. Mark McCarthy, Chairman, S.C. Veterans Committee. Refreshments are to follow at the Monticello Elks Lodge on North Street. All are invited. Master of Ceremonies: Al Etkin
Liberty: 10:30 a.m. On behalf of The Town of Liberty and Cpl. Russell D. Sprague American Legion Post 109, the Liberty Memorial Day Parade will Line-up on West Liberty Street and North Main Street at 10:00 a.m. 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 St. Peter’s Cemetery on Cold Spring Road. At the cemetery, there will be a short service to honor our War Heroes.
County Service: Liberty: 1:00 p.m. – The Veterans Service Agency will provide a Memorial Day Service and Wreath Hanging Ceremony at the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Sunset Lake Road, Liberty. Master of Ceremonies: John Crotty
Wurtsboro: 1:00 p.m. Mamakating American Legion Post 1266 will sponsor the Memorial Day Parade – (12:30 p.m. – lineup on Pine Street in front of the Post). Parade will end at the Veterans Park in Wurtsboro. At the conclusion of the service there will be a BBQ at 92 Pine Street, the American Legion Home.
Town of Mamakating: Shawanga Mountain V.F.W. Post 4947 – Dedication at Summitville Fire House at 9:00 a.m. and finally joining in the Memorial Day Parade in Wurtsboro (hosted by Mamakating American Legion Post 1266). Lineup is at 12:30 p.m., step off at 1:00 p.m.
Bethel: 11:00 a.m. Service at Town of Bethel Veterans Park, Kauneonga Lake. ‘
Fremont Center: 132nd Annual Fremont Center Memorial Day Parade: 9:00 a.m. Road Closure; lineup just above the Fremont Center Community Church. Special Memorial Service at New Veteran’s Park (next to Town Barn) at 9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Parade starts through Fremont Center to the baseball field.
Award Ceremony will follow.
Long Eddy: 1:00 p.m. The Allan Milk Memorial VFW Post 7276 will have services in Long Eddy Catholic Cemetery, luncheon to follow at Long Eddy Firehouse.
Neversink: 11:00 a.m. Flag Ceremony at the Flag Pole, Grahamsville Cemetery. Flag Exchange: Donald TerBush’s Flag will come down and be exchanged for William Lamb Jr’s Flag.
Eldred: 9:00 a.m. Sylvan Liebla American Legion Post 1363 will conduct a Memorial Service at Eldred Cemetery. 3:30 p.m. Tusten Highland Lumberland VFW Post 6427 and Sylvan Liebla American Legion Post 1363 will be doing a joint Memorial Service at Heroes Park, corner of Route 55 and Proctor Road, in Eldred.
Barryville: 9:30 a.m. Sylvan Liebla American Legion Post 1363 will conduct a Memorial Service at the Barryville Cemetery, Mail Road.
Lumberland: 10:30 a.m. Sylvan Liebla American Legion Post 1363 will conduct a Memorial Service at the Lumberland Cemetery, Hollow Road, Glen Spey. Refreshments to follow at the Lumberland Town Hall.
Roscoe: Parade starts at 10:00 with the Memorial Ceremony following immediately after at The Roscoe Fire House. Please join us in honoring our veterans and service men/women for all that they have done in serving our country and in keeping us safe.
Livingston Manor: 10:00 a.m. – Livingston Manor Memorial Day Parade and Service: Line up at 9:30 a.m. at the Livingston Manor Central School, 19 School Street.
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