Memorial Day, May 26, 2008 was a beautiful day for a parade - sunny and bright with a gentle breeze. Local service clubs like the Lions, Knights of Columbus, Italian-American Club, the Immaculate Heart of Mary Guild, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Little League, Rough Riders Lacrosse, the Doubleday Babcock Senior Center and the Oyster Bay Chamber of Commerce marched behind their banners.

As the Oyster Bay Fire Company No. 1 came marching down South Street one of the firefighters was giving out flags to people in the crowds. They marched along South Street, and East Main as they headed to Ships Point Lane for the waterside ceremony led by Rabbi Marvin Demant, a member of the Jewish War Veterans.

The Atlantic Steamer Company followed with Chief Bob Bagan leading his men, and amidst them, wearing his Army fatigues was James Ceglia. His wife Caroline said later, that he is not expecting to go back to Iraq - although you never know what the Army has planned - she added.

Aviation Machinist Mate Tommy Wulforst, of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron 56, marched with the East Norwich Volunteer Fire Company; his father Michael is the first assistant chief of the East Norwich company.

Captain Stephen T. Treacy walked with the Knights of Columbus.

As the three local servicemen walked by, watching on the sidelines was John Houman and his family. He is going with the Navy to the Persian Gulf. Although he joined the Navy five years ago, this is his first deployment. His wife Donna said, "He was really born in Denmark but he loves this country. I'm scared but really proud of him."

Watching from South Street, at what was the middle of the parade, you could see the trucks getting smaller as they headed toward Ships Point Lane. The crowd began to thin out as the faithful waited for the return parade to the Derby-Hall Bandstand. As the marchers came down Audrey Avenue, you could see that for the most part the youngsters had gone home to family barbecues.

At the bandstand, Parade Marshal Reginald Butt greeted the crowd. Monsignor John Alesandro gave the benediction for opening the ceremonies. He spoke of the need of gratitude for the gift of freedom that we have because of our fallen soldiers.

Legonnaire Butt asked Town of Oyster Bay Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner Bob McGeever to raise the American flag, which is traditionally done at noon on Memorial Day. As the Oyster Bay High School band played The Star Spangled Banner, people sang, and the flag rose up the pole to be unfurled by the wind.

Mr. Butt said the Quentin Roosevelt American Legion Post No. 4 is the oldest post in New York State and one of the oldest in the country. He introduced American Legion Commander William Ferris who said, Memorial Day is the unofficial beginning of summer, but it is not just a day for picnics, it is a day to take a moment to remember our heroes. He said the dying wish of those veterans is to take care of their loved ones. He said they, the families, remember the veterans every day.

Mr. Butt added, "Memorial Day is a day unlike any other. Since 1868, we have come together in our communities to place flowers and flags on graves of our fallen heroes and come together in services to honor those who have paid the ultimate price in the name of freedom.

"For whether a war is popular or not, the sacrifice is the same for the more than one million men and women who died in service of this nation in wars and conflicts since 1775.

"Americans must remember that freedom is not free. It is only possible because our fallen heroes have paid its high price. Let us not lose focus of what Memorial Day means; it is a day to remember.

"To our fallen heroes on this Memorial Day, we are in your debt and we thank you. May God bless them and this great nation of ours."

Mr. Butt said, "On Memorial Day, May 26, at 3 p.m. local time, Major League Baseball games will stop, Amtrak train whistles will blast across the country, and hundreds of other nationwide participants will encourage Americans to pause for the Memorial Day National Moment of Remembrance. The 'Moment' was established by an act of Congress to honor those who died in service to our country."

He said, "The goal is to put 'Memorial' back into Memorial Day; a Gallup poll revealed that only 28 percent of Americans know its true meaning."

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto said in a press release, "The idea of the Moment was born in 1996 when children touring Washington, DC, were asked what Memorial Day meant, and they responded, 'That's the day the pools open!'"

From the bandstand, Mr. Butts said, "The American Legion has partnered with the commission to increase recognition of the National Moment of Remembrance and encourages every American to attend Memorial Day events and to participate in the 'Moment.' When we honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, we are honoring those who have served and those who are still serving."

The traditional wreath laying was next on the program, as veterans and family members placed wreaths in front of the two war memorial monuments in front of Town Hall West. Then, Mr. Butt read out the names of those who died since last Memorial Day. They include: Henry Wikes, James McNamara, Joeseph Galano, Joseph Macedonio, Steven Zukowski, Al Ludlam, Martin Pettit, Andrew Capolo, and Jay Russell Ebbetts.

Later, Dulcie Fabbricante said, "It was a very moving service, when they read off all the names of the veterans who died since last Memorial Day. They were mostly WWII veterans. Then they played taps and shot off the guns. The whole day was very nice and very special."

At the bandstand, Mr. Butt thanked the Oyster Bay High School band members and called up the Rev. Kenneth Nelson of the Hood A.M.E. Zion Church to give the closing prayer. "He may also sing, God Bless America, too," added Mr. Butt, "And please join in," which those assembled did.

Mr. Butt thanked everyone who came out for the parade, those marching in the parade, those placing the wreaths, as well as Rabbi Marvin Demant for speaking at the ceremony at Ships Point Lane to honor those who died at sea. He thanked Rev. Nelson for the closing prayer and Monsignor Alesandro for the opening prayer, saying, "The monsignor has marched at the front of the parade since he came to Oyster Bay. He has not missed a parade. We wish him well on his journeys." Monsignor Alesandro is leaving the parish at the end of June and is looking forward to teaching canon law at Catholic University in Washington, D.C.