Riverhead’s Memorial Day ceremonies and parade: photo gallery

Local residents and officials honored those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country during Memorial Day ceremonies yesterday in Riverhead. 

The annual ceremonies, hosted by the Riverhead Combined Veterans Committee, take place at memorial sites and cemeteries around town, accompanied by a parade featuring veterans groups, elected officials, police and emergency services, the Riverhead High School Naval Junior Reserve Corps, and the Riverhead High School marching band performing patriotic music. 

Residents gathered on the sidewalks along the long parade route. The parade stepped off at 9 a.m. at the intersection of Osborn Avenue and Pulaski Street, marched south to Main Street, then east to East Avenue, north to St. John’s Cemetery, and continued on Roanoke Avenue to Pulaski Street for a stop at Riverhead Cemetery en route to its final destination at the War Memorial on the lawn of the Pulaski Street School. 

Ceremonies at the memorial sites included the placement of wreaths, and prayers, a military salute with gunfire, and taps performed by Riverhead High School junior Kevin Jones of Wading River. Mark McLaughlin of Riverhead sang “God Bless America at the first ceremony.

The Memorial Day holiday has its roots in Decoration Day, a day when Union Civil War veterans honored those who had died in conflict. It was first observed on May 30, 1868, at the direction of  General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic. Logan called on veterans to remember their comrades who died in defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now lie in almost every city, village, and hamlet churchyard in the land.” 

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Riverhead Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Commander Thomas Najdzion. drew the crowd’s attention to the display of ceramic red poppies at the World War I Monument on Court and West Main streets, where the first ceremony of the day was held.

“Our poppy field has grown tremendously. It’s very impressive,” Najdzion said. He recognized the efforts of Riverhead High School ceramics students to produce the poppies and their teacher, Selena Pagliarulo. First “planted” in 2021, the poppy field has grown to number 92 separate flowers crafted by Pagliarulo’s students. The crowd expressed appreciation with a hearty round of applause.

Memorial Day is a “sacred day to all veterans,” Najdzion said during remarks at the closing ceremony. “America’s collective conscience demands that all citizens be reminded of the deaths of their fellow countrymen during wartime. By honoring the nation’s war dead, we preserve their memory, and thus their service to sacrifice,” he said.

While no veteran needs to be reminded of the reason why Memorial Day must be commemorated, Najdzion said this is not necessarily true of the general public.

“Do most non-veterans really recognize the importance of the day honoring their fellow Americans killed at war? Judging from what Memorial Day has become, simply another day off from work, the answer is a resounding no,” Najdzion said. “Perhaps a reminder is due then. And then it is the duty of each and every veteran to relay the message. Sacrifice is meaningless without remembrance…Far too often the nation as a whole takes for granted the freedoms all Americans enjoy. Those freedoms were paid for with the lives of others,” he said. 

“This should be regarded as a civil obligation for this as a national debt that can only truly be repaid by individual Americans,” Najdzion said. “By honoring the nation’s war dead we preserve their memory and thus their service and their sacrifice …for future generations,” he said. “They came from all walks of life and regions of the country. But they all had one thing in common: love and loyalty to our country. This bond cemented ties between them and time of trials, allowing a diverse lot of Americans to achieve a monumental end.”

The U.S. flag, which is flown at half staff on the morning of each Memorial Day, was raised to the top of the flagpole behind the monument on the lawn of the Pulaski Street School as the Riverhead High School Marching Band played the National Anthem.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Tim Hubbard then gave a brief speech.

“At a time when the world seems filled with uncertainty and disenchantment, it is both inspiring and reassuring to see all of you here, gathered around for an American tradition rooted in above all out gratitude and respect for members of the armed forces who made the ultimate sacrifice in defending the freedom of this great nation,” Hubbard said.

The supervisor urged all residents to pause and reflect on those sacrifices this Memorial Day and to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m. yesterday.

“Duty, loyalty, courage. These are just a few of the American values for which our fallen heroes lived and died. As a nation and a community, we must remind ourselves of these values and do our best to try and live up to them ourselves, Hubbard said. 

“Riverhead is home to many veterans of armed services. We are a proud community and even more proud of our veterans,” he said, thanking the  VFW and American Legion for their assistance in helping the community remember of its fallen heroes. 

Hubbard also thanked the Riverhead High School NJROTC, which cleaned all the Hometown Heroes banners that have been displayed along Main Street each spring and fall, beginning in 2021.

“The banners are a wonderful tribute to our Hometown Heroes but had gotten dirty from several years of weather and exposure to elements. So we thank them for their work and cleaning them up and restoring them to their original shine with their efforts,” the supervisor said. 

Council Member Ken Rothwell, liaison to the town’s Veterans Advisory Committee, presented a certificate of appreciation to Riverhead NJROTC Senior Naval Science Instructor Commander David Chiaro, Commanding Officer Morgan Stromski and Executive Officer Victoria Arm.

“The ROTC is always always first on the list to call when you need volunteers and they always proudly show up. We thank them very much,” Hubbard said. 

RiverheadLOCAL photos by Emil Breitenbach Jr. and Denise Civiletti