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Health & Fitness

Memorial Day Ceremony Ties Rye's Generations Together

City Hall Memorial Day Ceremony

The City took a break this week from its usual business at City Hall to take part in the national time to pause, remember, mourn and pray.  If you were one of those in attendance, you realized something very special was happening on this Memorial Day and how lucky and proud we are to be a part of this community.

Over 150 residents representing all generations to include veterans of the American Legion Rye Post 128, seniors, public officials, high school students, eagle scouts, boy scouts, cub scouts, girl scouts, brownies, daisies, moms and dads all came together as we took a look at our past, present and future. 

The Day was About the Soldiers

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 Over 40 million Americans have answered the call to serve in our history, and more than 1 Million men and woman have died in defense of their country.  Most were in the prime of their lives – husbands, sons, fathers, wives, daughters, and mothers.  Behind each one is a story, an American story and an American family.  In paraphrasing US Army Officer Deborah Parker from an address she gave in 1997 -- Our soldiers are courageous men and women, so different in background and heritage who reached a moment in their lives when race and religion, creed and color made no difference.  What remained was the essence of America.  In contrast, they revere freedom, so they sacrifice their own.  They defend our rights as individuals, yet they yield their individuality for that cause.  They value life, yet bravely ready themselves to die in service of their country.  They left a nation that is in their debt.

In Rye, the day’s remarks continued to weave ties between our past and future.  John Carolin, an Army Lieutenant in World War ll read the Rolls of Honor.  In World War l, 384 served, 9 died.  In World War ll, 1,345 served, 46 died.  In the Korean War, 194 served, 1 died and 1 missing in action.  In the Vietnam War, 190 served and 3 died.

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Larry Bocksel whose daughter lives in Rye, spoke of being part of the first wave on Omaha Beach on D-Day during World War ll.  His grandson Owen is now a Rye scout.  Rye resident Bertrand de Frondeville added an international perspective about his father’s role in commanding a French Naval base during the war.  Greg and Ted Dempsey were in attendance and have just graduated from West Point and Annapolis respectively – and are the Grandsons of veteran Ed Dempsey.  As a sign of the times, the keynote speaker, Captain Jason Armas, has just been deployed to another tour of duty in Afghanistan, but his parents were recognized for their family’s contribution. 

Time to Pledge Anew

So let’s pledge anew to remember the service and revere the sacrifice of our soldiers.  In return, they have put their faith in us to continue to protect the freedoms they fought for.  On this Memorial Day we stood together as one community, one City, and one Country from across our great nation to right here in Rye to speak with one voice.  One voice to say -- thank you.  ”We take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion”.   And let’s not forget the heroes of today who have made the same pledge of sacrifice if called upon and let’s continue to stand with them as they stand up for us.

Thanks to the American Legion Rye Post 128 and Post Commander Jim Burke for continuing Rye’s tradition in honoring the fallen.  Thanks to Jim Kingery and Rye Ford for continuing the Memorial Essay contest with High School students.  Congratulations to Tom Saunders who will receive the Westchester County Legionnaire of the Year Award.  And congratulations to Robin and NYS Assemblyman George Latimer who won the 2011 Americanism Award.  George said it best -- when you looked around the room at City Hall on Memorial Day, the collective contributions from our residents across our generations made for a very special day and make a very special community.

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