By Richard Tedesco
The sun broke through the clouds as the parade started off from the park across from Lawrence Village Hall. And in ceremonies before it began, everyone in attendance was reminded of the day's special meaning.
"The mizvah is to remember, and by remembering them let us sanctify their souls and their memory," Rabbi Kenneth Hain of Congregation Beth Sholom.
Two policemen on horses led the way, with veterans of Lawrence-Cedarhurst American Legion Post 339 and VFW Post 1582 in Inwood following close behind in cars and golf carts, waving to the crowd along Central Avenue and handing out small American flags as they went.
The Lawrence High School Marching Band strutted down Central, playing in fine form, followed by the firemen and police, the fire trucks and a Sons of Italy float depicting the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima.
At the concluding ceremonies of the hour-long display, Dr. George Elkowitz, commander of post 339, spoke about those " who far from home, gave their lives for liberty on the beaches of Normandy and in the South Pacific. Memorial Day means freedom is not cheap."
Elokowitz also commended our servicemen in Iraq for answering their call to duty.
Monsignor Paul Rahilly of St. Joachim's Roman Church, charged all those present to remember those who sacrificed their lives in the past by action in the present: "We honor them by how we live with one another, by accepting our differences and our similarities, our religions and our ethnic backgrounds."
He concluded with the prayer of St. Francis, intoning "We ask you Lord to make us instruments of your peace."
Rabbi Yaacov Feitman of Congregation Bais Yehuda Tzvi offered a prayer for the dead: "May their repose be in paradise and may the Lord take them up under his wings of peace."
The honor guard of veterans fired three rounds of rifle salutes for the fallen. Then Vietnam veteran Bob Craven and World War II veteran Nick Orlando laid a wreath at the veteran's memorial in Cedarhurst Park, and the day was over.
But the faces of those witnessing the ceremonies showed that they were still contemplating the words of those present in honor of those heroes who were absent. But those honored dead were still very much alive in the imaginations of those who marched, and those who observed on this Memorial Day.
