Memorial Day parades give everyone a chance to pause and remember the many, many men and women who have so valiantly given their for our country.

New Hyde Park held its Memorial Day Parade on Saturday. It was a bright shiny day, not too hot, with a cool breeze. The parade, sponsored by the G&E Linder Post No. 8031, the American Legion and the Village of New Hyde Park, stepped off at Hillside Boulevard and Jericho Turnpike. It then headed east on Jericho and stopped for a brief ceremony at New Hyde Park Village Hall and then proceeded north on New Hyde Park Road to Lincoln Avenue and New Hyde Park Memorial Park where the completion of the ceremonies was held.

After the blessing by Father A.M. Stanganelli, pastor of Holy Spirit Church, New Hyde Park Village Mayor Daniel Petruccio gave the following inspiring speech:

"As we gather each year on this special day it is important to remember why we take the time to step away from our routine to perform this civic ritual in this particular fashion. This day is a day to honor the more than 1, 260,000 Americans who have given their lives in defense of our freedom and in the preservation of our way of life.

"In a Memorial Day speech given on May 30, 1884, Supreme Court Chief Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes addressed the question of why we need to commemorate our war dead in this way.

"Holmes said, 'To the indifferent inquirer who asks why Memorial Day is still kept up we may answer, it celebrates and solemnly reaffirms from year to year a national act of enthusiasm and faith. It embodies in the most impressive form our belief that to act with enthusiasm and faith is the condition of acting greatly. To fight out a war, you must believe something and want something with all your might. So must you do to carry anything else to an end worth reaching. More than that, you must be willing to commit yourself to a course, perhaps a long and hard one, without being able to foresee exactly where you will come out. All that is required of you is that you should go some whither as hard as ever you can. The rest belongs to fate. One may fall at the beginning of the charge or at the top of the earthworks; but in no other way can he reach the rewards of victory. Each year, in the full tide of spring, at the height of the symphony of flowers and love and life, there comes a pause, and through the silence we hear the lonely pipe of death. Year after year the comrades of the dead follow, with public honor, procession and commemorative flags and funeral march, honor and grief from us who stand almost alone and have seen the best and noblest of our generation pass away.'"

Petruccio said, "Holmes continued, 'But grief is not the end of all. I seem to hear the funeral march become a joyful song of praise. I see beyond the forest the moving banners of a hidden column. Our dead brothers still live for us and bid us think of life, not death, of life to which their youth they lent the passion and joy of spring. As I listen, the great chorus of life and joy begins again and amid the awful orchestra of seen and unseen powers and destinies of good and evil our trumpets sound once more a note of daring, hope and will.'"

Mayor Petruccio then turned the parade over to both VFW Commander Edward Smolenski and American Legion Commander Chuck Ulrich for the placing of the wreaths. That was followed by a volley rifle salute to the war dead by both the VFW and American Legion, the playing of taps and the National Anthem performed by Angela Powers.

The Village of Williston Park held its parade, traditionally, on Monday and it was preceded by an Everlasting Service held by the Williston Post No. 144 of the American Legion. This year was its 51st ceremony and it was extremely impressive, held behind the American Legion building on Willis Avenue. Luckily, the weather held for this ceremony, however, there were intermittent light showers during the parade.

American Legion Commander John Lawless called the roll of the departed and the names added to the list this year include: Richard F. Amadeo, Charles J. Cooney, Peter Giblin, Edwin Hewitt, Francis O'Connor, James J. Ward, Joseph Bolan, Walter F. Denzler, Edward Gorski, John A. Marra and George J. Touwsma. Auxiliary members on the list presented by Kay Derby, include Ann Jaesson and Rose Simmons.

Former North Hempstead Town Supervisor John Kiernan, of Williston Park, introduced the guest speaker, Nassau County Clerk Maureen O'Connell. He commented that she has been someone in public service for a very long time having been a trustee and deputy mayor of the Village of East Williston and New York State Assemblywoman for eight years. He said she had to deal with a backlog of three million documents when she first was elected as county clerk. But, because of her determination and dedication, she and her staff were able to file and catalog all of those documents. He noted that any job given to O'Connell is always done swiftly and with accuracy.

County Clerk O'Connell then came to the podium and said, "Thank you. I am humbled and deeply honored to be here. Memorial Day is a day unlike any other. Since 1868 we have come together in our communities, towns and villages, to place flowers and flags on the graves of those who have given their last full measure of devotion to our country. We have come here to remember and honor those who have done their duty, as God allowed them to see that duty.

"Let me cite a few facts-incomplete facts before I say anything else, because facts have a way of not allowing you to ignore them. Facts can be brutal. In 80 months of Revolutionary War there were 10,623 casualties, with 4,435 deaths, or about 55 Americans dying each month of war. In 37 months of the Korean War there were 136,935 casualties, with 33,651 deaths, or about 909Americans dying in combat each month of the war. In 90 months of the Vietnam War there were 211,471 casualties, with 47,369 deaths, or about 526 Americans dying in combat each month of the war. In one month of the Gulf War there were 760 casualties, with 293 deaths, or 148 Americans dying in combat during the month of war. In the 14 months of fighting in Iraq, there have been 4,685 casualties, with 803 deaths, or 57 Americans dying each month of the war.

"Those Americans who died in all these wars did their duty, and we know who they are, as we visit the cemeteries and note the dates of their shortened lives on the headstones. We know their loved ones, their wives and mothers, and their children, and the friends who shall always miss them.

"But let me mention another war, the Big One, ominously numbered with a two, not only because there was a previous war that was thought to be a world war, but because reasonable men rightly assumed there might be many huge conflicts that would literally embrace the globe - World War II. This was a time when good and evil contended for the world. Our greatest values were at stake. It is this war that I want to especially note and remember here today.

"In 49 months of World War II there were 1,078,162 American casualties, with 407,316 deaths, or 6,639 Americans dying in combat each month of the war. These are staggering numbers. And the recriminations even during the war at home from the politicians and press were relentless, as it always seems to be in a free society. But Americans in the field never faltered. Even after 19,000 American troops died at the Battle of the Bulge in December of 1944, or the 13,000 that died - most in hand-to-hand combat taking Okinawa, the Americans persevered. Their courage and sacrifice knew no bounds. And under a steadfast commander-in-chief, Franklin Roosevelt and his generals, Eisenhower, Bradley, MacArthur, Patton, we would have victory.

"And we all know, and the world well knows that without our contribution to the war, civilization as we know it would not have survived.

"At this Memorial Day gathering, we especially want to recognize those who served during the epoch of World War II. Their generation is passing. It is important that we show appreciation of their collective sacrifice. Without their strong dedication and perseverance, the cause of freedom and sanity in the world would not have prevailed. We honor them today, along with all the others who wore the uniform of this democratic state.

"We can honor the final sacrifice of our service men and women by dedicating our own lives to peace and the defense of freedom. For these ideals they fought, and for these ideals we continue to strive. May we stand with diligence and with humility on the broad shoulders of those whose brave deeds and sacrifice we memorialize today. Let all of us commit this day, whether in public ceremony or in quiet reflection over a single grave, to remember them in fitting tribute. God Bless you and God Bless America."

After the very impressive ceremony, all the members filed out to Willis Avenue to start the parade.

The Garden City Park VFW held its Annual Parade on Saturday, as well. They started at 9 a.m. and marched through the streets of Garden City Park ending with ceremonies on the steps of Garden City Park School.