Longtime Golden’s Bridge FD Memorial Day Tradition Returns For 2024

GOLDEN'S BRIDGE, NY — A highly anticipated annual tradition is back in full force in 2024 and the Golden's Bridge Fire Department wants you to be part of the celebrations.

The Golden’s Bridge Fire Department will hold its annual Memorial Day festivities and local veterans, organizations and residents are invited to participate in the line of march.

A community parade in which children are encouraged to ride festively-decorated bicycles, a wreath-laying ceremony and breakfast will be part of the Memorial Day festivities hosted by the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department on May 27.

The parade will culminate with a dramatic ceremony, as members of the community will be selected to join firefighters in placing a memorial wreath at the historic, four-ton granite American Legion monument outside the front entrance of the Golden’s Bridge Firehouse. Firefighters will read the names of the 76 Golden’s Bridge residents engraved on the pair of bronze plaques affixed to the monument that memorialize their service in World Wars I and II.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, all participants and attendees will be invited into the apparatus bay of the firehouse for a light breakfast of bagels, muffins, donuts, juice, coffee and other refreshments.

"It will be a wonderful way to start your Memorial Day. We invite you to assemble families from your street, or from your community organization, and march in the parade as a group; or just come to the Golden’s Bridge Firehouse and join your friends, neighbors, service members, and firefighters in honoring our war deceased, especially those etched in history on the American Legion monument, whose caretaker is the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department," said Joseph Simoncini, chief organizer of the annual observance who has been a firefighter for nearly 30 years and also serves as a commissioner of the Golden’s Bridge Fire District.

"This is an opportunity to join as a community and collectively honor those who sacrificed their life for their country," he added. "The ceremony and wreath-laying will involve many local residents. Afterwards, have a cup of coffee and a muffin or bagel with a veteran, a firefighter or your neighbor, and be home in plenty of time for your family gathering."

Participants in the line of march will gather at 9:45 a.m. at the step-off point on Todd Hill Circle in the Brady’s Farm development (off Rt. 138, just beyond the firehouse). The parade will kick off at 10 a.m. Residents who want to participate as spectators should arrive at the firehouse by 9:45 a.m. to be in place to greet the fire trucks, contingent of uniformed firefighters bearing the American flag, and other participants as they turn into the GBFD parking lot.

As part of the wreath-laying ceremony, Golden’s Bridge Fire Department members will share the honor of reading the names of the 76 Golden’s Bridge residents engraved on the bronze plaques of the granite monument. The observance will also include a flag ceremony and tolling of the fire bell for two minutes. Retired service members will greet the gathering of residents and participants and present brief remarks before everyone is invited to breakfast and refreshments.

Local organizations are encouraged to sign up with a contingent of participants for the line of march by contacting the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department public information officer by phone, 914-403-4072, or sending an email to this address.

All residents and military veterans who live in Lewisboro and the areas of Somers and North Salem in the fire district are invited to participate.