Tipping Our Caps to Veterans and All Who Serve:
For many Rye families, the Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on the Village Green was the perfect cap to a glorious holiday weekend.

 

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For many Rye families, the Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony on the Village Green was the perfect cap to a glorious holiday weekend. Crowds assembled on Purchase Street and watched as American Legion Post 128 members led the way; after them marched elected officials, School Board members, firefighters, police officers, Rye High bands, Scouts, Rye Chamber members, and a host of other community caregivers.

At parade’s end, Post Commander Thomas Saunders welcomed everyone to the annual ceremony outside City Hall. Robert Steel, who not only teaches history at Rye High School, but passionately works to keep it alive, received the 2015 Americanism Award.

James Cronin won first prize in the John M. Kingery Memorial Essay Contest; the runners-up were Jake Mequet and MacKenzie Smith.

It is no easy task to rise to the rank of Eagle Scout, but eight young men did — Sean Byrne, Peter MacKenzie, Zack Unkenholz, Reid Bradt, Brandon Olivier, Tim Hardis, Grant Sundstrom, and Jack Smith — and they were recognized and heartily applauded.

Congressman Eliot Engel delivered a fine keynote address that honored all service men and women, and focused on important legislation on behalf of veterans.

After the playing of Taps by Matthew Bellanger, and the Retreat of the Colors by Post members, guests got up and thanked all those who made this occasion, once again, a day to remember.

— Photos by Robin Jovanovich and Tom McDermott