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Mostly Cloudy Hundreds in Freeport remember the fallen on Memorial Day
Waving flags and batons, the Freeport High School color guard danced as the marching band played jubilant tunes during this year’s Memorial Day Parade, hosted by William Clinton American Legion Post 342 on Monday.
“It’s my honor, as a United States Navy veteran, to stand with you today,” Village of Freeport Mayor Robert Kennedy said, “and honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to afford you [freedom] and equal rights for all.”
This year’s parade marked the 100th anniversary of Post 342, and all Legion members served as parade grand marshals. Hundreds of village residents lined Merrick Road to watch local clubs like the Ebenezer Falconets, churches like Zion Cathedral, nonprofit groups like Operation SPLASH and the NAACP, and the Freeport police and fire departments.
Kennedy called for a village-wide moment of silence not only in memory of military personnel who have lost their lives, but also in honor of Marine Corps Sgt. Robert Hendriks, of Freeport, who died in April.
This year’s parade was dedicated to Hendricks. His mother, Felicia Biondo-Arcuelo, works in the village treasurer’s department. He was one of three Marines killed on April 8 in combat in Parwan Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division. He died when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device near Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul. He was buried with military honors at Calverton National Cemetery on April 24.
“Memorial Day is a day for remembering those men and women who died while serving,” Kennedy said.
During the traditional acceptance of the flag, the family of Donald Payne Wilson, master chief corpsman in the U.S. Navy, was presented with a folded American flag. It was a posthumous military honor for Wilson’s 24 years of service in World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars. After Wilson retired, he moved his family to Freeport in November 1963. He was the first U.S. Navy chief who was promoted to the rank of E9, master chief. Wilson was also recognized as an honorary parade grand marshal by William White, who was the master of ceremonies at this year’s event.
“He was my best friend. He took care of us. [My father] was extraordinary,” Wilson’s son Windell said as he wiped away tears after accepting the flag.
