Thursday, October 1, 2026
Although consistent rain showers over the Memorial Day weekend forced the cancellation of the Freeport Memorial Day Parade, the community still gathered at Freeport High School on Monday morning to remember and honor members of the U.S. military who have died serving the nation.
Organizers of the parade pivoted to an indoor ceremony after an unfavorable forecast on Sunday night. Local leaders, elected officials and dozens of residents attended what was a unifying and respectful service.
“It’s my honor, as a United States Navy veteran, to stand here today with you and honor those veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Mayor Robert Kennedy said, “to afford you and I freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of education, freedom to vote, freedom to protest and equal rights for all. This day should be a somber reminder of the men and women who died while serving this nation’s military.”
Laura Smith and Stacey Rose, whose ancestors have served in the U.S. military since the Revolutionary War — and who were named the co-grand marshals of the parade — were honored nonetheless during the ceremony.
Smith is an attorney who lives in Seaford, but has many ties to Freeport, including owning a home in the village. She is a descendant of Revolutionary era figures Adam Smith and Benjamin Raynor, the latter the namesake of Raynortown, which eventually became Freeport. Smith also mentioned that she has had other veteran relatives as recently as World War II.
Laura Smith told the Herald that she was tremendously honored by the invitation to be one of the grand marshals, and hoped that the values her family, and so many others, have fought for are maintained today.
“These guys kind of bucked a trend, since it was very loyalist around here on the South Shore,” she said, referring to Smith and Raynor. “It was kind of a dangerous thing to do, and certainly unpopular that they did go against the tide.”
Rose, who has lived in Freeport for 40 years, is a substitute teacher at John W. Dodd Middle School. She is a descendant of Benjamin Lattimore Sr., an enslaved Black man who was freed and later served in continental armies in New York during the Revolutionary War. At Monday’s ceremony, she reflected on the contributions of veterans as well as of the many community leaders and activists in the centuries since who helped improve the country and brought about a more inclusive democratic system.
“I’m just proud to know that I’m part of these courageous people’s bloodline, and it informs me,” Rose said. “It informs me the work is not over. Democracy is always a work in progress, a fragile idea. Today’s patriots are those who give military service for our country. …Our 250th anniversary is a time to reflect and think about the sacrifice of those who are no longer with us.”
Performances by Freeport High School student musicians were featured throughout the program. And in a special presentation, an American flag was given to Patricia Richardson, the widow of Coy Richardson, a Vietnam War veteran and member of American Legion William Clinton Story Post 342 in Freeport, who recently died. Two other recently deceased Freeport veterans, Jarvis Easton and Richard Gowwell, were also given special acknowledgment.
