The Many Reasons Memorial 2023 Was So Special In Golden's Bridge

GOLDEN'S BRIDGE, NY — There are plenty of reasons for Memorial Day to be a somber affair, but in Golden's Bridge, they made sure to also joyously celebrate those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

From the Golden's Bridge Fire Department.

More than 130 local residents joined firefighters and active and retired military members at the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department Annual Memorial Day Parade and Wreath Ceremony. Children riding patriotically-decorated bicycles, scooters and even roller-skates, and parents pushing strollers, joined the line of march that stepped off at 10 a.m. from Todd Hill Circle and proceeded to the Golden’s Bridge Firehouse, where a 45-minute ceremony was held at the historic American Legion World Wars Monument located at the firehouse entrance across from the iconic bell.

The Monday event also drew spectators lining portions of Rt. 138 to cheer the participants – which, along with many Golden’s Bridge families, included Girl Scout Brownie Troop 2497 of Increase Miller Elementary School, Boy Scout Troop 154, members of the Lewisboro Town Board, and a contingent of GBFD firefighters.

The event was highlighted by poignant speeches – including a personal and heartfelt keynote address by Col. Christopher Rust of the New York Naval Militia, who is a Golden’s Bridge resident and retired Lt. Col. of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves – a flag retirement ceremony, the presentation of the names of the 76 Golden’s Bridge residents whose service in World Wars I and II is memorialized on bronze plaques on the American Legion Monument, and a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument.

A chief’s car driven by 2nd Assistant Fire Chief James McManus kicked off the parade, followed by Col. Rust, who marched with the GBFD Color Guard that included U.S. Army Reserves Sgt. Louis Velazquez of the 325th Battalion, Fort Devens, Massachusetts. Spectators listened intently to Col. Rust, who during his keynote mentioned a litany of deceased comrades and family members who served. He was later joined by retired U.S. Marines Sgt. Nestor Cerna, a Lewisboro resident, in ceremonially folding the retired American flag that was lowered from the firehouse flagpole by Golden’s Bridge firefighter Thomas Beneventano as the bell tolled in the background.

Fire Commissioner Robert Melillo of the Golden’s Bridge Fire District, GBFD Fire Chief Albert Melillo, and 2nd Assistant Fire Chief William Holze presented the names of the 76 Golden’s Bridge residents engraved on the American Legion Monument. After the names were presented, retired U.S. Army 2nd Lt. John Lemke, chair of the Lewisboro Veterans Advisory Committee, paired with Charlie Green, an Army veteran and the longest tenured firefighter with the GBFD at 63 years, to place one of the ceremonial wreaths at the monument, while Col. Rust and Sgt. Velazquez placed a second wreath in honor of the war deceased.

The ceremony was begun with invocations delivered by Fr. Jude Aguwa, parochial vicar of St. Joseph Church in Somers and the GBFD’s chaplain, and Rabbi Arik Wolf of Chabad of Bedford. Ben Foglio, a youngster and Golden’s Bridge resident born with a rare incurable disease, was the honorary grand marshal who rode in the lead fire truck. Col. Rust was touched by the GBFD’s gesture, alluding to his own special needs sister in his keynote.

Golden’s Bridge Fire Commissioner Joseph Simoncini, chair of the annual Memorial Day Parade and Wreath Ceremony, was grateful to local residents and participants for supporting this event. "We thank everyone who took the time to start their Memorial Day with the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department in this important and necessary exercise of honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. By remembering their service and sacrifice, we celebrate their lives and all that they did for protecting the freedoms that we enjoy today. As caretakers of the American Legion Monument, the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department is privileged to bring together our community to honor our deceased military," said Commissioner Simoncini, a firefighter with the GBFD for more than 25 years.