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Legislator Soskin Urges All To Take Time To Honor America’s Fallen This Memorial Day

Army Vet, Soskin Says Remembrances Have Significance To Family, Friends, Communities & Those Who Serve Nation

List Of Memorial Day Events

New City, NY (May 24, 2024) – As Rockland County and the nation pause to remember America’s war dead this weekend, County Legislator and Army Veteran Phil Soskin urges all to take time out to honor their sacrifices.

“These men and women lost their lives in service to our nation – in service to each and every one of us,” Legislator Soskin said. “The sacrifices trace back to before this country was even a country, back to the Revolutionary War. From then until now, it is estimated that more than one million Americans have died in war.

“The numbers don’t reflect those seriously injured physically nor those forever changed mentally and emotionally,” Legislator Soskin said. “The numbers don’t reflect the families, friends, military comrades and communities left to carry on without those lost. When we remember, the true significance of their  losses is made clear and sends a message to those now in uniform that should the worst happen, we will never forget you.

“I ask everyone, if you can, please take time to attend a Memorial Day event. They laid down their lives and sacrificed so much, the least we can do is dedicate a few minutes of our day to honor our nation’s war dead, a list that includes dozens of Rockland County residents.”

A list of Memorial Day Events follows. Please note: Inclement weather may force changes to these events.

SATURDAY, MAY 25

9 A.M.

NYACK: VFW Post 9215 and CR & RO Blauvelt American Legion Post 310 will replace flags at Oak Hill Cemetery, 140 Highland Ave. in Nyack. More than 900 veterans are buried at the cemetery, including two Medal of Honor recipients.

10:30 A.M.

CONGERS: The Veterans Memorial Association of Congers hosts a Memorial Day Parade, kicking off at 10:30 a.m. from the Congers-Valley Cottage Ambulance Corps building on King’s Highway. It continues down King’s Highway, turning left onto lake Road and ending the VMA building, 65 Lake Road. A ceremony will follow to remember and pay tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

SUNDAY, MAY 26

9 AM

MONTEBELLO: Annual Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony at 9 a.m. at Montebello Village Hall.

10 A.M.

AIRMONT: A Memorial Day ceremony is at 10 a.m. at Village Hall, Cherry Lane in Airmont.

TAPPAN: Raymond W. DeMeola VFW Memorial Post 1615 will host a Memorial Day observance at 10 a.m. at the Walkway of Heroes, located at Independence Avenue and Lester Drive.

12 NOON

NEW HEMPSTEAD & SUFFERN: The Rockland County Veteran's Coordinating Council will hold two ceremonies at the County’s Veterans’ Cemeteries. A ceremony at 12 noon at the Frederick Loescher Veterans' Cemetery on Brick Church Road; a ceremony at 1 p.m. at the Gary Onderdunk Veterans' Cemetery on Rockland County Community College's campus.  A Korean War ceremony will immediately follow at the memorial at the south end of Onderdonk.

MONDAY, MAY 27

8:30 A.M.

STONY POINT: A Veterans’ Service starts at 8:30 a.m. at Mt. Rest Cemetery on West Main Street. A parade starts at 9:30 a.m. at the corner of Jay Street and Ten Eyck Street, followed by a memorial service that includes a wreath laying, at 10:30 a.m. at Stony Point Town Hall.

9 A.M.

HILLBURN: Memorial Day parade starts at 9 a.m. at the Ramapo Central School District Administration building and proceeds to the World War I Monument at the corner of Lake Avenue and Fourth Street for a ceremony.

NYACK: Nyack American Legion Post 310 and VFW Post 9215 will conduct a ceremony to honor fallen comrades who died in the service of their nation at 9 a.m. at  the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at Oak Hill Cemetery, 140 N. Highland Ave., near the Civil War Monument area.

PALISADES: Led by John M. Perry American Legion Post 1044 of Sparkill. The Palisades ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. at the flag pole at the war monument in Triangle Square, located at the intersection of Closter Road and Route 9W. 

9:30 A.M.

TAPPAN: The Carl A. Schelin American Legion Post 1271 and the Volunteer Fire Association of Tappan will host a Fireman’s Memorial service starting at 9:30 a.m. at the Tappan Firehouse. A parade follows at 11 a.m. starting at the German Masonic Park with a wreath laying ceremony at the Tappan Triangle, intersection of Closter Road and Route 9W.

10 A.M.

NEW CITY: William E. DeBevoise American Legion Post 1682 of New City will host its annual Memorial Day Parade kicking off at 10 a.m. Assembly at Collyer Ave. and South Main St., New City.

PIERMONT: Piermont Engine Hose Co. No. 1 parade begins at 10 a.m. at the front of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7452 of Piermont and continues to Kennedy Park where a ceremony will be held.

POMONA: The Jewish War Veterans will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 10 a.m. at the Town of Ramapo’s Eugene Levy Park.

SLOATSBURG: The Village of Sloatsburg and the Sloatsburg American Legion Post 1643 hold a Memorial Day program and parade starting at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, adjacent to the Sloatsburg Municipal Building. A parade will then proceed to the World War I Monument and conclude at the Sloatsburg Cemetery.

10:15 A.M.

PEARL RIVER: John H. Secor American Legion Post 329 of Pearl River will host an annual parade that steps off at 10:15 a.m. from Key Bank, heads south to East Central Avenue onto Central Avenue and ends at Braunsdorf Park. A Memorial Day service will be held at 11 a.m. near the Police Booth.

11 A.M.

HAVERSTRAW: A ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. at the World War I Monument at Mount Repose Cemetery hosted by Leo Laders American Legion Post 130.

CHESTNUT RIDGE: Fred Eller American Legion Post 1447 will hold a service at 11 a.m. at its Saddle River Road post. Hot dogs and refreshments afterward.

NYACK: The Nyack Memorial Day Parade starts at 11 a.m. Route: Main Street from Franklin Avenue to Broadway, down Broadway turning left onto Depew Avenue, and into Memorial Park. A ceremony follows at the upper  level of the park. Led by Charles and Raymond O. Blauvelt American Legion Post 310 of Nyack. The Grand Marshal will be past Post Commander Frank Pappalardo, a proud Korean Era Army Veteran. Guest Speaker will be Col. John H. Leighton, USMC (Ret), a highly decorated Vietnam Era helicopter pilot and Past Commander of the RC Marine Corps League.

SPARKILL: Led by John M. Perry American Legion Post 1044 of Sparkill. A parade will begin at 11 a.m., starting at the Sparkill Firehouse and ending at Depot Square Town Park, where a ceremony will take place at about 11:50 a.m., with refreshments to follow.

SUFFERN: A Memorial Day Parade hosted by the Village of Suffern and the Fromm-Maxwell-DeBaun American Legion Post 859 will start at 11 a.m. at the intersection of Orange and Lafayette Avenues, continue onto Lafayette Avenue and end at the Soldiers Monument at Washington Avenue. A ceremony will follow.

WEST NYACK: The Friends of Mount Moor Cemetery hold a Memorial Day ceremony starting at 11 a.m. The historic cemetery is located on the grounds of the Palisades Center (near Dick’s Sporting Goods on the Route 59 side).

12 NOON

BLAUVELT: The Blauvelt Lions Club Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 12 noon at Lions Park. Light refreshments and water will be served after the ceremony.

NANUET: Naurashank American Legion Post 794 and the Jewish War Veterans of Rockland will hold Memorial Day services at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Monument, Prospect Street across from the Nanuet Post Office. Parking is available in the commuter parking areas.

ORANGEBURG: The James H. Anderson American Legion Post 1199 will conduct a Memorial Day Gun Salute in honor of the fallen at 12 noon outside the post quarters, 61 Hunt Road, Orangeburg.

1 P.M.

SPRING VALLEY: Anthony Moscarella American Legion Post 199 of Spring Valley, in conjunction with the Village of Spring Valley, will hold a Memorial Day service at 1 p.m. at Memorial Park. Roll call and Rifle Salute for Spring Valley Military persons who were killed in war action.

11:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY, MAY 29 – MIDNIGHT, THURSDAY, MAY 30

HAVERSTRAW, ORANGETOWN, PIERMONT & RAMAPO: Memorial Day Watchfires’ ceremonies will begin at 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, with the watchfires lit at midnight on Thursday, May 30. Watchfires burn for 24 hours at four locations: Bowline Point Park in Haverstraw; Eugene Levy Memorial Park on Route 45 in Ramapo; east end of the Piermont Pier; and top of Clausland Mountain Park in Orangeburg. The watchfires are sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans of America. This annual observance honors troops that were lost in the war, never returning to enjoy their family and friends as a consequence of war.

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