As the annual Memorial Day Parade ended, on Monday May 27, many marchers joined people in the area in front of Town Hall East. There, Parade Chairman, Past Commander of the Quentin Roosevelt American Legion Post No. 4, Reggie Butt stood before a podium at the microphone. This year the crowd was huge. It was a unique year: someone mentioned that besides the new parade route, there was the effect of September 11 that has stirred the patriotic feelings of the nation.

Commander Butt welcomed the observers and Rabbi Demant offered the invocation as he asked God to grant us the wisdom to appreciate all of his creations. "Teach us the joy that comes with peace." Then the Oyster Bay High School Band played the National Anthem.

American Legion, Quentin Post No. 4 Vice Commander Alexander Plumb; Legion Ladies Auxiliary President Marie Gilbert and VFW Post No. 8033 Commander John Bruckner had words of greeting for those gathered. Ms. Gilbert said one of the auxiliary members, Ann Ranaldo, was marching for the 50th time that day. Mr. Bruckner offered a silent salute "On behalf of our glorious republic for those who died."

Mr. Butt asked for a moment of silence as the noon hour approached. "This is when we traditionally raise the flag from half mast," he said. It didn't happen in real time because Mr. Butt said he hadn't notified the town about it.

Commander Butt said of the new location for the monument: "This is the best place for people to view it. There (surrounded by overgrown bushes) it looked like a big rock; here you can read the names of the people who paid the ultimate sacrifice."

He introduced the traditional placing of the wreaths at the monuments assisted by Past Commander John DiLillo and Legionnaire Bill Ferris. Wreaths were placed for the American Legion by Vice Commander Alexander Plumb; for the Ladies Auxiliary by President Marie Gilbert; for the VFW, Commander John Bruckner; for the Knights of Columbus by Grand Knight John Paterson; by the Agostinello family in memory of Gerald and Joseph Agostinello by Legionnaire Al Agostinello, their brother; by the Ferro family in memory of John M. Ferro placed by his niece Marie Baade; for the Masons by Master A.J. Covert.

Mr. Butt turned the attention of the crowd to the new plaque in place on the World War monument, one for Korean veteran Robert Stewart who was killed in Korea on Nov. 5, 1951.

"We have gone for years saying no one locally died in the Korean War. With the help of Steven Walker who researched the fact, we found an article in the Friday, Nov. 23 issue of the Guardian with the headline, 'First Local Lad to Die in the Korean War.'" Robert Stewart was an Oyster Bay High School graduate and was in the paratroopers. He enlisted two years before his death.

Mr. Butt said he checked with the Bayville and Locust Valley American Legion Posts to see if they listed Robert Stewart on their rosters. When they didn't he said that confirmed the decision to add him to Oyster Bay's. "I remember the Senior Garden at Oyster Bay High School was named after him," he said. It was where the cafeteria is now located.

Robert Stewart died a corporal, at age 20. Not much more is known of him other than that he was the grandson of Mrs. Fred Wedley of Anstice Street and the nephew of George Wedley of Capitol Heights Road. A cousin of his lives in Huntington. His mother had moved to Lattingtown when he went into service.

"People in the future will know he made the precious sacrifice so we could live today," said Mr. Butt.

Mr. Butt said "Our veterans are getting older. The ranks of the deceased are growing by 1,400 a day," he said. He read off the names of local veterans who died within the year: Nicholas Ranaldo, Dominic Ranaldo, William Thompson, James MacKenzie, Salvatore Schettino, William Gavin and Anthony DeLucia. "May their souls rest in peace," he said.

A beautiful and haunting rendition of Taps, with an echo filled the street. It was performed by two OBHS musicians.

The benediction was given by Rev. Jeffrey Prey. In it he remembered those whose lives were sacrificed so that we can live with freedom. "Let us embrace the freedom that is ours, along with its responsibilities. Let us continue their legacy and bring glory to God."

Mr. Butt spoke again of the Korean War. "The Korean War has been called the forgotten war. Let's hope we made up for that by remembering the one person we forgot."

He thanked all those who helped with the event. He said the Legion tries to keep alive the memories of those who gave their lives for peace. The Legion tries to educate Americans to be sure we don't forget those sacrifices. "They fought for peace, let it be everlasting," he said.

He commented that this was probably the largest attended memorial service in years.

VFW Commander John Bruckner considered the changed parade route and said he missed the old route. He thought there were less people watching the parade this year, but said there was a better concentration of people and that the event was better organized. "In the long run it's the logical spot. It focuses on where the action is - the monuments," he said. "Reggie does a great job. He organized it from A to Z. He's the heart of the organization," he said.

By now, the town center was almost empty. John Brucker was getting a ride in Reggie Butt's SUV to the new Legion Headquarters at 120 South Street, where refreshments were being served. Mr. Butt said while he was marching, a member of the Lion's club called out: "Did you guys always have cell phones?"

Mr. Butt called out the answer to him, "Yes, but they were called Walkie Talkies back then!"

"Remember Flag Day," said Mr. Butt and Mr. Bruckner. "Tell people to bring in their torn and faded flags. On Flag Day, we will have a private retirement ceremony for American flags. It is done by the Quentin Roosevelt Post and the Boy Scout Troop they sponsor. A bugler plays at the event."

People can give their flags that need to be retired to any VFW or Legion member. There are boxes marked for the flags at the Oyster Bay Library, the post office and at Dodds & Eder."

Mr. Butt said, "Hopefully we will get a mail box for the purpose of people leaving their flags." (There was a picture in last week's Pilot of a decorated mail box for flags in Bayville.) "Syosset was the first one to use a mail box, one and a half years ago in a parking lot," said Mr. Butt.

"We hold our ceremony on Centre Island at the mouth of the harbor. It is very impressive," said Mr. Bruckner.

This year the annual American Legion Memorial Day Parade set a new direction for itself. With the sale of the American Legion Hall to Island Properties and moving their monument to the area in front of Town Hall East, they felt they had lost the reason for gathering at 260 South Street. They decided to follow their monuments to their new location at Town Hall East and use that area as the focus of their parade. The result was, to most residents, a good choice.

This year was also different, in that to honor September 11, one of the fire trucks had written in white letters across its windshield "9/11/01 Our Brothers Remembered."

What was the same about the parade, were the marching groups and the crowds lining the new route. This year the marshaling area was the Firemen's Field parking lot; the parade formed on Shore Road and marched through town to Ship's Point Landing where Father Malcolm Burns of St. Dominic R.C.C. offered a prayer as wreaths were placed in the water by American Legion Vice Commander Alexander Plumb and Veterans of Foreign Wars Commander John Bruckner. Echo Taps were performed by two Oyster Bay High School trumpeters.

The parade reformed and marched to Townsend Square Park where Parade Chairman Past Commander Reginald Butt Jr. (who is also the Nassau County American Legion Vice Commander) spoke.

Of the new parade route, resident Michael Trepal said, "I like it." "It's good," agreed Kathy Trepal. "The staging area is much easier to get to, and the drop off and pick up is in one area." The Trepal's son Daniel was marching with the Oyster Bay Middle School band and their daughter Megan was marching with Brownie Troop 150.

"The parking is a lot less congested," said Angela Bianculli. Previously the streets at the south end of town, in the vicinity of the American Legion Hall were where the bands, Scouts, PAL, OBEN Soccer groups etc. gathered.

"It will be easier to pick up the kids at the end," said Rich Bianculli. Their son Dan was also marching with the OBMS band.

"It is my first year to see the parade," said Karen Kalan. "I think this is beautiful. This is the first year we participated with our children in the parade." She was standing with Lauren Winckowski.

When Jerry Hanrahan of Oyster Bay was asked how many Oyster Bay Memorial Day parades he had watched, this was the 83rd, he said, "All of them. Even the one with Teddy. Teddy and I are friends." He was obviously someone who keeps his friends entertained. He was standing with members of his family including Barry Goggian of Northport; Jeanne Hanrahan Herbert and Rex Herbert and Gloria Hanrahan.

"I'm the matriarch," said Gloria Hanrahan. "It's great this year, a lovely thing," she added. You may remember her from her years working at the Oyster Bay Library.

Further down Audrey Avenue, Debbie Bruening and Tom Bradke were waiting for the parade to march back for the memorial ceremony. They both have children who are drummers in the OBMS band, Jennifer Bradke and Al Breuning.

Tom Bradke, a 40-year resident of Oyster Bay said "I've been watching Oyster Bay Memorial Day Parades for 40 years. Forty years of parades, there's no place like it!" Carol Bradke, his wife, wasn't with him, she was in South Carolina visiting relatives.

He commented on the parade still going back and forth to and from the waterfront and said, "It makes sense using the parking field for a staging area instead of clogging up the side streets."

Marge and Andy Delaney brought folding chairs with them, and were sitting near town hall after the first march to the waterfront. Later they moved themselves to a spot closer to the ceremony. "It's a double-header today. It's always a double-header in Oyster Bay," said Andy, talking about the tradition of a parade that is seen going and coming. "I think this route consolidated the spectators more. Fortunately we got a good day too." Recently rain has dampened the day a bit.

Mr. Delaney was having "a mixed feelings day". "It's nice to get out, but it brings back a lot of memories of World War II," he said. "On Memorial Day I think of all the guys who didn't come back. It still gives me a lump in my throat. It certainly brings back some terrible memories." Mr. Delaney was in the Air Force stationed in England during the war and went on many bombing raids.

Just then the antique cars began returning to Oyster Bay, streaming around the bandstand. Palma Douglass and Velma Webster were riding in a red convertible. Marvin Morrison was hanging on to the back of an antique fire truck as it drove by with two little girls wearing stars and stripes bandanas on their heads.

Members of the Oyster Bay clergy marched in the front of the parade and as they returned, they pulled aside and gathered in front of Town Hall East and the Theodore Roosevelt bust location where the veterans monuments are now ensconced. Father Malcolm Burns of St. Dominic R.C. Church had spoken at the waterfront ceremony. Rabbi Marvin Demant of the Oyster Bay Jewish Center would give the invocation and Rev. Jeffrey Prey of the First Presbyterian Church would give the benediction.

The Oyster Bay High School Band marched by; the Lions Club members in their yellow vests; members of the Doubleday Babcock Senior Center marched by. DBSC member Mary Ann MacLeod in a straw hat decorated with American flags, led the group. Among the senior marchers was Fran Raymond, who just retired from her job as DBSC secretary and was feeling good. "Marching in the parade was exciting. This is the first year I marched. I became a member the day after I retired," she said.

The Vernon band marched by with their gold sequin headbands on their white cowboy hats glinting in the sunlight. The Boy Scouts went by with a companion dog marching with them. The East Norwich Boy Scout Troop 253 were next. The Girl Scouts followed, their green jackets a flood of color with all the earned badges they sported. Most of the children continued walking and left the parade area as they marched into Firemen's Field where their parents would pick them up.

Some children walked by carrying inflated plastic Dalmatian puppies that were being sold by a street vendor.

By now, parade watchers gathered along both sides of Bay Avenue as the fire trucks continued to the Firemen's Field for dismissal. During the parade, while the marchers were reforming at Florence Park, the fire sirens went off. There were two emergency ambulance calls at the same time that the companies responded to in the midst of the parade.

Legionnaire Bob Keller came over to say he was the youngest member of the American Legion at the Quentin Roosevelt Post No. 4, who fought in World War II. "I enlisted at 17," he said.