Village marches to remember the fallen

With a bright morning sky overhead, the streets were lined with flag-waving residents to observe and pay their respects to the memory of those who gave their lives in the service of this country during the village’s 102nd Annual Memorial Day Parade on May 30. The parade resumed after two years of postponement due to Covid-19 precautions. 

School organizations, service clubs, first responders, veterans, and religious groups came out in force to march in this year’s parade organized by the village, American Legion Post 854, and Veterans of Foreign War Post 1790. The marchers started from Wheeler Avenue and Rockaway Parkway and wound their way through the Valley Stream Business District on Rockaway Avenue, continuing down Valley Stream Boulevard and ending at Veterans Memorial Plaza.

A ceremony was held shortly after at the memorial site to honor the names of the Valley Stream residents who fought and died in combat, which are engraved on the memorial and were read aloud. Post commander of the Valley Stream American Legion Bill Rohe and commander of VFW Post 1790 Kevin Hill delivered the roll call of honor of names.

This year’s grand marshal was Thomas Daly, a Marine Corps veteran and member of the American Legion Post 854 and Veterans of Foreign War Post 1790.  The Valley Stream North High School Band performed the national anthem directed by Angelica Ansbacher. 

In his address to the crowd, Mayor Edwin Fare remarked, “This is the day where we stop and think about the families who did not have their sons and daughters come home to them after a war or a conflict. Today, County Executive Bruce Blakeman urged that this Memorial Day and every Memorial Day hereafter, we have two moments of remembrance in our day. We know that Memorial Day is filled with picnics and barbeque and everybody getting together with family and that is terrific: we encourage the togetherness, but we ask that at noon and at 6 p.m. we remember the people that are not together with us.”

He continued: “Make it your mission to stop and not only remember all the men on the plaque and monument behind me, but everyone who gave their lives for this great country. God bless America and God bless everyone on this monument behind me who faithfully left their homes in Valley Stream to keep us safe.”

During the ceremony, residents were invited to line up and solemnly walk over and place flowers at the base of the monument.