PHOTOS: Memorial Day in Lewiston

The Village and Town of Lewiston joined forces with Veterans of Foreign Wars Downriver Post 7487 on Monday to salute those River Region residents who have served in defense of this country.

PARADE:

Memorial Day was observed with a “Patriot’s Parade” down Center Street, to the “Circle of Honor” inside Academy Park, where the VFW paid tribute to past and present soldiers. 

••••••••

LUNCHEON

A free luncheon followed the ceremony inside the new pavilion – sponsored by DiMino’s Lewiston Tops – with food donated by the Brickyard Pub & BBQ, and dessert courtesy of Hibbard’s Original Frozen Custard.

••••••••

CEREMONY

The color guard.

••••••••

The Hon. Michael Roemer served as master of ceremonies for the main presentation.

“As long as two comrades survive, we, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, will render tribute to our fallen brothers and sisters,” he said.

“We are here today to celebrate and remember those who have served and are no longer with us. We do this so that we can pass on to future generations the memory of those who served and made the ultimate sacrifice to preserve our freedoms.”

Town of Lewiston Supervisor Steve Broderick was the keynote speaker.

“I was born in 1965,” he explained. “When I was a kid, Memorial Day was a day off of school or a day off of work. It was time to plant your flowers and tidy up the yard. It was the beginning of summer, with families getting together for picnics, enjoying a hot dog or a hamburger.

“I feel like, in the ’70s and ’80s, our education system’s teaching of past wars and what Memorial Day meant was not very in-depth. Part of my ignorance for the true meaning of this day was my own doing. Too busy worrying about having a good time and being a kid.

“For a lot of people my age, it wasn't until movies like ‘Pearl Harbor,’ ‘Platoon,’ ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ or the miniseries ‘Band of Brothers’ came out depicting accurate portrayals of what war really was like, that we really appreciated what those battles must have been like for 18-, 19- and 20-year-old kids. In fact, the first time I saw ‘Saving Private Ryan,’ I had trouble watching the opening scene, as our troops stormed Omaha Beach. It really put things into perspective.

“So, that brings me to what Memorial Day means to me today: A sacred day to honor all of our fallen heroes; a day to recognize that we live in peace and tranquility, in large part because of those men and women who didn't come home – men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice.

“It’s a day to reflect on the past – to realize that freedom is not free. A day to appreciate that what we have in our lives – and what we have in our beautiful community of Lewiston, New York – is a direct result of their sacrifice.

“Since World War I, 624,086 U.S. military personnel have died in combat, with much larger numbers that occurred before World War I that can't be accurately calculated. Young men and women who can never be thanked enough. But what we can do – and what I can do for the rest of my life – is honor those heroes with recognition, prayers and actions that show they will never be forgotten.”

The Memorial Day ceremony also featured the placing of the wreath and ceremonial flowers, and a flag-folding demonstration by Scouts of America Troop 824.

Scouts of America Troop 824 demonstrates a flag-folding technique.

Supervisor Steve Broderick offers the keynote address.

The Hon. Michael Roemer is presented an award of thanks by New York State Assemblyman Angelo Morinello.