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Warwick honors its veterans at 2014 Memorial Day ceremonies

| 29 May 2014 | 07:26
    Photo by Roger Gavan At the FiremenþÄôs Monument at Veterans Memorial Park, members of the Warwick Volunteer Fire Department conducted a memorial service and invocation by Chaplain, the Rev. Angelo Micciulla.
    Photo by Roger Gavan At the FiremenþÄôs Monument at Veterans Memorial Park, members of the Warwick Volunteer Fire Department conducted a memorial service and invocation by Chaplain, the Rev. Angelo Micciulla.
    Parkinson continued a tradition he began several years ago by walking over to the youngsters, scouts and scout leaders gathered in the cemetery to teach them the importance of remembering our veterans. He impressed on his young audience the seriousness of the sacrifices members of the military have made by reading the poem, þÄúTo An American Boy,þÄù penned by Catharine Curtis Day in memory of William Hebard Briggs II, who was killed in the invasion of Sicily in World War II.
    Parkinson continued a tradition he began several years ago by walking over to the youngsters, scouts and scout leaders gathered in the cemetery to teach them the importance of remembering our veterans. He impressed on his young audience the seriousness of the sacrifices members of the military have made by reading the poem, þÄúTo An American Boy,þÄù penned by Catharine Curtis Day in memory of William Hebard Briggs II, who was killed in the invasion of Sicily in World War II.
    At Warwick Cemetery American Legion Post 214 past Commander Walt Parkinson (far right) conducted ceremonies, which began with an invocation by American Legion Post 214 Chaplain Bob Ritzer as pictured here.
    At Warwick Cemetery American Legion Post 214 past Commander Walt Parkinson (far right) conducted ceremonies, which began with an invocation by American Legion Post 214 Chaplain Bob Ritzer as pictured here.
    Troop 45 Boy Scout Neal Curran read President LincolnþÄôs Gettysburg Address.
    Troop 45 Boy Scout Neal Curran read President LincolnþÄôs Gettysburg Address.
    Crowds lined up along Main St., Warwick.
    Crowds lined up along Main St., Warwick.
    Members of Daisey Troop 147 get ready to join the line of march.
    Members of Daisey Troop 147 get ready to join the line of march.
    Ron Streczyk, a member of the honor guard that will perform a three volley salute at the cemeteries, proudly displays a photograph of his father, Sgt. Philip Streczyk, who became famous for being among the first to land on Omaha Beach, where the photo was taken on D-Day during the invasion at Normandy, France, in World War II..
    Ron Streczyk, a member of the honor guard that will perform a three volley salute at the cemeteries, proudly displays a photograph of his father, Sgt. Philip Streczyk, who became famous for being among the first to land on Omaha Beach, where the photo was taken on D-Day during the invasion at Normandy, France, in World War II..
    The Grand Marshal for this year was World War II Navy veteran Ed Hodas, who had served 20 years as chairman of American Legion Post 214þÄôs Flag Placement Committee.
    The Grand Marshal for this year was World War II Navy veteran Ed Hodas, who had served 20 years as chairman of American Legion Post 214þÄôs Flag Placement Committee.

By Roger Gavan
WARWICK — It was a rare day for this particular cool spring.

Temperatures rose to the mid-80s as hundreds of members of veterans' groups, their guests and other organizations braved the hot sun to participate in the annual Memorial Day ceremonies.

After the traditional parade down Main Street numerous groups and honored guests joined the veterans in ceremonies held at Warwick Cemetery, St. Stephen's Cemetery and Veterans Memorial Park.

The Grand Marshal for this year was World War II Navy veteran Ed Hodas, who had served 20 years as chairman of American Legion Post 214's Flag Placement Committee.

Members of Warwick's well-known Stewart family of military servicemen marched with the color guard followed by local officials, veterans and other organizations.

At Warwick Cemetery American Legion Post 214 past Commander Walt Parkinson conducted ceremonies, which began with an invocation by American Legion Post 214 Chaplain Bob Ritzer Then, in a quiet and touching moment, and assisted by Grand Marshall Ed Hodas, he read the names of all the comrades who had past away since last year's ceremonies.

Troop 45 Boy Scout Neal Curran read President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Girl Scout Rebecca Garloch related the history of playing "Taps."

'As a community and as a nation'

Warwick Mayor Newhard mentioned many of the preparations throughout Warwick that had been made for this day in tribute to all the veterans for service to their Country.

"In actions and words we work together as a community and as a nation to show our gratitude," he said. "These are acts of love and patriotism and simple gifts for the great gift that has been bestowed upon us by decades of men and women who have served our country."

'The will and moral courage of Americans'

Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton recalled the words of President Ronald Reagan who said, "No arsenal in the world is a match for the will and moral courage of Americans." Sweeton added, Our town, our villages and our hamlets certainly bear witness to these words.

'How precious life is'
Warwick Town Justice Peter Barlet, a familiar figure at veterans' events, said, "Memorial Day reminds us of just how precious life is and how fleeting our days. It calls upon us to consider the path forward; and it requires us above all else, to remember the men and women who brought us to this season and who gave their lives to do so."

One generation to the next
Parkinson continued a tradition he began several years ago by walking over to the youngsters, scouts and scout leaders gathered in the cemetery to teach them the importance of remembering our veterans.

He impressed on his young audience the seriousness of the sacrifices members of the military have made by reading the poem, "To An American Boy," penned by Catharine Curtis Day in memory of William Hebard Briggs II, who was killed in the invasion of Sicily in World War II.

The poem reads, "Sicily was conquered really ahead of time, with comfortably few losses, but one of them was mine."

VFW Post 4662 services, conducted by Commander Buddy Cooke, included the laying of wreaths at the VFW monument.

The ceremonies at Warwick Cemetery concluded with a benediction by Christ Church Assisting Priest Rev. Elizabeth Phillips. They were followed by services at St. Stephen's Cemetery, conducted by Father Michael McLoughlin, pastor of the Church of St. Stephen, the First Martyr.

The parade then continued down Forester Avenue to the Firemen's Monument at Veterans Memorial Park where members of the Warwick Volunteer Fire Dept. conducted a memorial service and invocation by Fire Department Chaplain, the Rev. Angelo Micciulla.