ENGLEWOOD, N.J.—Memorial Day in Englewood is always a mixture of pride and sadness, as the city honors those who died while serving the United States.
On May 27, hundreds of residents and visitors from the tri-state area gathered at Soldier’s Monument on Palisade Avenue for this year’s commemoration.
The ceremony was attended by numerous dignitaries, including American Legion Post 58 veterans led by Post Commander Willie Patterson, American Legion Post 58 Woman’s Auxiliary, led by Andra Akridge, Bergen County President of the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 58 and Unit President Joan Dickens.
Also present were Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton, Englewood Council Members Wayne Hamer, Charles Cobb, Cheryl Rosenberg, Michael Cohen and Council President Katharine Glynn, former Councilman Scott Reddin, NAACP Bergen County Chapter President Jeff Carter, Fire Department Chief Erik Enersen, Police Chief Lawrence Suffern, and many others.
The service began at 10 a.m., with an invocation by Rev. Preston E. Thompson, Jr. of the Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Next was the presentation of military units and posting of the colors directed by Englewood Police Sgt. and Iraq War veteran Oscar Hernandez, while the Patriot Brass Ensemble played marching songs. This year’s color guard was comprised of members of the Englewood police and fire departments as well as the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Air Force.
As World War II veteran Frank Lucianna stepped up to the microphone, he proclaimed, “America is great and it has always been great!”
Lucianna led the Pledge of Allegiance, and the National Anthem was sung by Kayla Jones of the Janis E. Dismus Middle School.
“In Flanders Field,” the world famous poem in which Lt. Col. John McCrae relates life in the trenches during World War I, was read by Englewood resident Chris Gagliardi. The poem inspired the tradition of wearing red poppies in remembrance.
Next, Mayor Michael Wildes called for a round of applause for prominent Englewood octogenarian Olga Mosciaro, who founded the city’s Memorial Day parade.
“We all know that the real Mayor of Englewood is Olga Mosciaro!” he exclaimed. “Olga, thank you for your compassion, your citizenship and for keeping something so important so strong!”
Wildes then introduced the dignitaries who were present and thanked everyone.
“We remember the individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice and gave their lives for democracy to ensure our freedom and freedom for our children and future generations,” said Wildes. “Everyone who is assembled here today and around the world owes a most grateful debt to those Americans who fell in service and who delivered peace and liberties to the nation today.”
This year’s Memorial Day Parade grand marshal was Ernest Clark, whose service in the U.S. Air Force since 1956 included assignments in: Kodiak, Alaska; Cape Charles, Virginia; Fort Lee, Virginia; Elgin Air Force Base in Florida; and McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.
Ernest re-enlisted in 1960, and was transferred to an off-shore radar station at Otis Air Force Base in Cape Cod, Mass., then spent the
remainder of his Air Force duty at Manassas, Virginia’s Radar Station.
Clark was honorably discharged from the Air Force in November 1964 and began his employment at Consolidated Edison as an electrical sub-station operator.
In 1995, Clark joined Englewood’s American Legion Post 58, and he is currently an American Legion delegate for both Bergen County and the State of New Jersey.
Wildes presented Clark with a pin for his outstanding military service, after which Mosciaro introduced the U.S. Army National Guard.
Lucianna read Englewood’s Honor Roll, a somber moment that hears the names of 106 Englewood residents who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces read aloud, followed by the Patriot Brass Ensemble’s performing “Amazing Grace” and “Taps.”
Rabbi Fred Elias of Kol HaNeshamah gave the benediction and the colors were retired.
The service concluded with the firing of a canon by Mott’s Artillery and the traditional raising of the flag from half-mast. An elaborate parade up Palisade Avenue provided a beautiful finish to a great event.
