PASCACK VALLEY AREA, N.J.—Memorial Day, so much more than the unofficial start of summer, snapped wide as a star-spangled thank you last weekend from residents of the Pascack Valley as elsewhere in the nation.
At parades and in salute, song, and prayer on Monday, May 27—at parks, cemeteries, and on main streets—we honored the uncounted men and women in service who fell, and who are falling, defending our way of life.
In doing so we took our turn in a parade of generations stretching to the end of the Civil War.
Ideally we also reflected on our own responsibilities to each other and what we mean by American values—those principles so many of our best and bravest fight and die for.
Here are highlights of 2019 Memorial Day in our neck of the woods. Did we miss something special? Add to the conversation at pascackpress@thepressgroup.net.
Emerson
Following its parade, Emerson gathered at Monument Park, across from Patrick M. Villano Elementary School, for a solemn remembrance ceremony hosted by American Legion Post 269. Service of light refreshments followed at the Emerson Senior Center.
Hillsdale
In Hillsdale, in addition to the parade—led by Grand Marshal Nat Lucarello—residents were welcomed to a hearty breakfast prepared by Boy Scout Troop 109 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
At 9 in Veterans Park followed services for departed police officers and volunteer firemen and ambulance corps personnel.
Scout Troop 108 and Cub Pack 331 hosted a picnic with free food and games at Beechwood Park for families with children interested in joining the scouts.
Students of St. John’s Academy sang “God Bless America” on May 24. They delighted in hosting Gen. Leonard E. Wood Post 162 of Hillsdale, Woodcliff Lake, and Old Tappan for the occasion.
Thursday, May 23 and Friday, May 24, Pascack Valley High School students solicited donations for poppies alongside veterans.
Hillsdale United Nursery School and members of Post 162 and the Hillsdale Police Department also joined in a Memorial Day flag salute May 24. Five classes, along with their families, recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang “God Bless America” and “This Land is Your Land.”
HUNS Director Carol Stalter thanked those in the crowd who served—and serve—our country.
She told the group that Marty Seitz of Becker Funeral Home is the school’s “flag angel” who for the past 20 years has been replacing worn stars and bars around the Pascack Valley—including at the school.
The mayor and council recognized the American Legion’s 100th birthday on April 9. The Legion, the oldest and largest veterans organization in the United States, was founded in 1919 in Paris at the end of World War I.
Moving forward, check out renderings of a new monument for Veterans Park on Post 162’s website. The post is raising half of the funds needed; the other half is inbound from a county grant. You or your employer can pitch in at americanlegionpost162.org.
Montvale, Park Ridge, Woodcliff Lake
Cpl. Jedh C. Barker American Legion Memorial Post 153 and the governing bodies of Montvale, Park Ridge, and Woodcliff Lake coordinated a grand parade and memorial services at Park Ridge Veterans Monument Park, Montvale Veterans Monument Park, and Woodcliff Lake Veterans Monument at V.F.W. Post Building #8946.
With Jim Miller as chairman, parade assembly was on Monday at 9:45 a.m. at Montvale Firehouse. The parade commenced in Montvale, transited Park Ridge, and terminated in Woodcliff Lake.
When the parade marched at 10:30 an honor division of veterans groups led the way.
This year’s Tri-Boro Memorial Day Parade, May 27, celebrates the 100th anniversary of Post 153, organized September 1919.
- First division: Montvale, Park Ridge, and Woodcliff Lake police; Post 153 banner escorts Boy Scouts of America; post detachment color guard; post Marching Band; Sons of The American Legion Squadron 153; Grand Marshal Dick Bozzone in a 1946 Mercury convertible driven by owner Henry O’Brien; Post Commander Joseph Collery’s auto; Post members in an Escalade driven by John Lynch, post vice commander; Corvette convertibles driven by James Donovan, PC and Marcia Eisen; M-37 1961 Dodge; a 57mm cannon; and North Jersey antique cars with post members, Gold Star families, and the Civil Air Patrol contingent of Astronaut Wally Schirra Cadets.
- Second division: Tri-boro mayors and councils; the Woodcliff Lake 125th anniversary float; Park Ridge High School Marching Band led by Rich Popolizio; Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard; Rockland Boulders “Boulder Bird”; Park Ridge Elks Lodge 2234; Fulton Friendship Masonic Lodge 102; Greater Pascack Valley Woman’s Club; Knights of Columbus, Our Lady of Fatima Council 4486; Atrium Senior Living of Park Ridge/Atrium Post Acute Care; Sunrise Senior Living van with veterans; Park Ridge Recreation Committee; Park Ridge Rotary Club; Montvale P.B.A. Local 303; Boy Scout troops 80 and 334; Montvale Girl Scout Float (Montvale Landscaping); International KB#2 1949 Pick-up truck (Jeffrey Piatt); Park Ridge Girl Scout float (Douglas Piatt); 1947 International flatbed (Montvale Landscaping); five-ton U.S. Army transport truck (Brett Unger); Park Ridge Golden Age Social Club (Downe’s Tree Service).
- Third division: Montvale Fire Department Color Guard and Marching Unit; Montvale Fire Department Ladies’ Auxiliary; Park Ridge Fire Department Color Guard and Marching Unit; Woodcliff Lake Fire Department Color Guard and Marching Unit; Park Ridge Police Department D.A.R.E.; Woodcliff Lake Police Department L.E.A.D.; and Tri-boro Volunteer Ambulance Corp.
- Fourth division: Daisy troops, Taekwondo For Life, Cub Scouts with Pack 345, Brownie troops, Girl Scouts, and Webelos.
River Vale
In River Vale, The Garden Spot of the Pascack Valley, the township Memorial Day ceremony was Saturday, May 25 at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial Park, behind Town Hall. Keynote speaker was Vietnam veteran, parade grand marshal, and River Vale resident Tony LaSpada. The scouts and historical re-enactors with rifle salute were not to be missed. Afterward on Facebook, Bill Peters said, “Excellent program!” Carol Fritz Sonneberg agreed: “A great job and a wonderful tribute…” The event followed days after Woodside Elementary School fifth graders planted flowers in the EMS park as part of their community service project.
Township of Washington
In the Township of Washington the annual parade set forth on Monday at 10 a.m. Marchers assembled at Washington and Clinton avenues, proceeded to Pascack Road, then marched to the Township of Washington Memorial Monument in front of Town Hall, where a service was held at 11. The day brought out a veterans color guard, marching band, bike brigade, motorcycles, fire trucks, military vehicles, antique cars, patriotic floats, scouts, and live music. Will the parade route return to Colonial Boulevard next year? Stay tuned.
Westwood
In Westwood, Mayor John Birkner Jr. stood with Freeholder Chairwoman Germaine M. Ortiz to thank the Police and Fire departments, the borough Veterans Council, and the ambulance corps for the ceremonies and parade, which began at Fireman’s Park and ended at Veterans Memorial Park.
Parade grand marshal was Jim Gines, a Vietnam veteran, founder of the Westwood Heritage Society, and Westwood for All Ages June 2019 Senior of the Month.
In his remarks, Birkner said the crowd was one of the largest he’d seen in years. He thanked the volunteers, singers, musicians, and Zion School pre-schoolers for their rendition of “God Bless America.”
Solemnly remembered were the 35 residents who left their home town “to valiantly serve our country in its time of need. They gave their last full measure of devotion to this always great nation so that we would remain a free and righteous democracy,” Birkner said in part.
In a longtime tradition of the Westwood VFW and American Legion Post 206 working jointly in preparation for Memorial Day, the groups had decorated the graves of veterans at Westwood Cemetery and St. Andrew’s cemetery in River Vale. Troop 47 scouts Sean Mullen and Scout Annie Mullen assisted. Post Commander Carl Williams thanked them, Post 206, Sons of American Legion, Post 206 Auxiliary, VFW Post 130, friends, and family.
