by Bea Peterson
In advance of Memorial Day the weather forecasters were saying that Monday was going to be the best day of the long weekend. Well, they were wrong. At least in Hoosick Falls they were wrong. It rained. It rained when the wreaths were placed at the monuments in Wood Park. It rained when the wreath was put in the Hoosic River in remembrance of those lost at sea. It rained off and on throughout the beautiful parade with a half dozen bands and fire companies, girl scouts, boy scouts, politicians, American Legion Post #40 members and so many more.
[private]
It didn’t matter that it rained. Folks with and without umbrellas gathered to watch the Parade. Some Parade participants had rain gear, some did not. Didn’t matter; they marched anyway. After the Parade a large number of people gathered in Wood Park to hear Master of Ceremonies and Village Trustee Ben Patten welcome everyone to the program. Parade Grand Marshall and long time Parade organizer Don Bogardus addressed the crowd and commented on how important his wife Esther was to him and how much she always enjoyed participating in this parade. She and Don are still recovering from their recent auto accident. Esther is still at the Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Hoosick Falls. Among the other speakers was Rensselaer County Legislator Stan Brownell who commented on veterans lost this past year, particularly Tom Restino, Sr. In their honor he read the poem “In Flanders Field.”
Legion Auxiliary member Marilyn Tate presented 50 year Auxiliary membership certificates to Esther Bogardus, Doris Auernig and Georgiana Parker.
Help For Veterans
Legion member Sandy Libby asked for a moment of silence in memory of a local veteran who had taken his life just that day.
Army veteran John Holmes a Military Community Liaison, told the crowd that he was there to listen to any veteran who wanted to just talk through his or her experiences. “We’re just ordinary people who have been traumatized by our experiences,” he said. “I want you to know I’m here for you guys.” And he is here, at the American Legion building on Main Street every Tuesday and Friday from 9 am to 5 pm.
The program concluded with the Taconic Pipe Band playing “Amazing Grace” and the Hoosick Falls Community Band playing “Abide With Me,” followed by a Volley Salute by the American Legion Honor Guard, the playing of taps and the HFCS and Community Bands joint rendition of the National Anthem.
[/private]