Days of Rain Vanish, Just in Time for Washingtonville's Memorial Day Parade
- ejreporter
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Steeped in history, love for its first responders and veterans, the Village of Washingtonville was on edge all week, wondering if their Memorial Day Parade was going to be ruined. Plans were rearranged and modified so that the Washingtonville High School's band instruments would not be ruined if it turned into a downpour. But Mayor Tom DeVinko and his wife Maureen were not about to lose this very important community day, and vowed that it would not be canceled unless thunder and lightning made the situation unsafe. But their incredible hard work to make this event happen was rewarded. JUST as the Parade participants assembled at the High School and started to to march down Main Street and up Arrow Point Lane Road to the Village's beautiful Firemen's Park, it was like the Sea parting .. the rain lifted and turned into an intermittent light drizzle and dozens of small groups began to grow larger along the Parade route.
Parents and grandparents of active soldiers, veterans and first responder families with small children marched with their hand-held flags. They lined the route and continued to grow as the marchers made their way to Firemen's Park where many gathered to celebrate with friends and family, thrilled that something as simple as the weather made yet another Washingtonville historic day possible.
First, a Police Escort led the marchers, followed by the favorite Ancient Order of Hibernians Bag Pipes, and then came Village and Town Officials: Town Supervisor Rob Jeroloman and Mayor Tom Devinko along with Town Board members Cathy Acevedo, Frank Malloy, John Byrnes, Steven Amante, John Stegenga and Simon Schwartz. The High School Band may have been missing a few weather-sensitive instruments, but they made up for it with the instruments they brought, and lots of spirit with the Parade's drum corps being heard for miles.
Washingtonville Mayor Tom DeVinko &
Blooming Grove Town Supervisor, Rob Jeroloman
Deputy Supervisor Cathy Acevedo, Councilmen Frank Malloy and John Byrnes
Crowd at Firemen's Memorial Park welcoming marchers
Cub Scout Troop 712
Washingtonville High School Band
The Washingtonville Middle School Drama Club
Dawn Salka with the Ambulance/Rescue Team
With Ahern Boulevard being empty for awhile before the parade
the young man at the right was showing off his bold new scooter skills.
This young lady took waving her flag very seriously.
It's the small moments you remember..... a father puts his best rain jacket down on the wet curb for his little daughter to sit on. A 7-year-old grins from ear to ear whipping around on his new tiny scooter. A senior holds her beautiful puppy "Coco" who is entranced by the Parade... she is only 3 but this is not her first parade and she has a good idea of the excitement that is coming. A friend you have not seen for a long time yells "Halloo" from one of the trucks. One of the High School teens throws you a bead necklace and a lollypop and makes you laugh. Yes, it feels like family and you feel like you are really a part of this Community. And YES, it is also a very serious day. You remember cousins who fought in Vietnam, stories of a Great Uncle who was a spy on the far North of the coast of Norway, warning of Russian troops, and the shining star of an honored and respected cousin who came home from WWII with PTSD, became an alcoholic and never recovered from the horrors of war that he had seen. Today we honor them ALL. Whether we believe their struggle was always right or not, it was all too real and they poured their heart into doing what they believe is right. And for so many it brought pride. But for others it brought nightnmares. And for others it brought death. We honor their struggle to do the right thing and try to make the world a better place. and we pray that we develop better skills that can make a more peaceful world.
Independence Fire Company, South Blooming Grove, NY
(More pictures will be up later of the numerous fire and rescue groups that participated).
Story and photos by:
Edie Johnson,
Executive Editor
Orange County Courier Journal
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