Military veterans and residents gathered in brief ceremonies in Williston Park and Mineola early this week to observe Veteran’s Day.
“Many of those who fought did not return from their theater of operations,” Village of Williston Park Mayor Paul Ehrbar said a ceremony at the Williston Park Veterans Memorial in front of Village Hall,
Ehrbar asked all those present to keep U.S. millitary personnel currently “in harm’s way” in their prayers.
“Bless all veterans and their families and God bless America,” he said.
Ehrbar was joined at the ceremony by members of Williston Park VFW Post 1688 and American Legion Post 144, who formed the color guard. VFW Post commander William Vesely presided at the ceremonies and members of Cub Pack 221 also participated and provided a color guard.
Rosemarie Farrar, known as the nightingale of Williston Park, led the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” at the beginning of the cermonies and “God Bless America” at the end.
Msgr. James McDonald of St. Aidan Church offered an invocation, saying, “We rejoice in the freedom, the religious freedom, the liberty that we enjoy that was bought by the privations of those who served.”
Members of the VFW and American Legion placed two flower wreaths at the Veterans Memorial.
Veteran Jack Alfonso played taps near the 11 o’clock hour.
Veterans Day was originally established to commemorate the armistice in World War I on Nov. 11, 1918, when hostilities were halted in the 11th hour of the morning.
Karan Amin, a sixth grader at the Willets Road School, read the poem “In Flanders Fields” in a strong, clear voice to the small crowd of veterans and residents gathered for the ceremonies
In Mineola Memorial Park on Sunday morning, Carl Marchese, commander of Mineola American Legion Post 349, reminded the modest crowd of military veterans and residents there that Veterans Day is intended to honor all those who served in the nation’s armed forces.
“This is the day we honor veterans living and dead,” Marchese said, adding that it originally commemorated the end of the war that was supposed to end all wars.
He reminded those present of the American Legion motto, “Every day is Veterans Day, and encouraged those present to offer a simple “thank you” to veterans they encounter.
Members of Mineola VFW Post 1305 also participated in the ceremonies.
Don Hammond, American Legion chaplain, concluded his invocation by saying, “Let us transform the devotion to war to a devotion to peace.”
“Often times we lose sight of what’s important. Today is a reminder of how important our veterans are and what they’ve done for us,” Village of Mineola Deputy Mayor Paul Pereira said. “Freedom, peace, that’s what they gave to us.”
Rephrasing words of President Ronald Reagan, Mineola Trustee Lawrence Werther said, “Some of us wonder whether our lives have a purpose. I can tell you with a certainty that members of the U.S. military don’t have that problem.”
Members of Cub Pack 246 presented laid flower wreaths at the War Memorial where the ceremonies were held. U.S. Marine veteran Stephen Solarik played taps at the 11th hour.
Marchese concluded the ceremonies saying, “In peace we hall go forward. We shall move forward in the strength of God in a peaceful world.”
