Rainclouds Didn't Dampen Enthusiasm At This Key Memorial Day Event

GOLDEN'S BRIDGE, NY — There are plenty of reasons for Memorial Day to be a somber affair, and the grey skies this holiday set the tone, 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.

It was a day of reverence and camaraderie when the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department hosted its annual Memorial Day event at the firehouse on May 27. A community parade was the warmup to a ceremony marked by emotional tributes, tearful observances, heartfelt words, and solemn spectacle highlighted by a military flag folding and the placement of memorial wreaths at the American Legion Monument – the 4-ton granite stone, located outside the entrance of the firehouse, whose bronze plaques are engraved with the 76 names of Golden’s Bridge residents who served in World War I and World War II. Retired military veterans, residents, elected officials, and other first-responders joined Golden’s Bridge Firefighters in paying tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Although there was rain in the forecast, it didn’t dampen the turnout and patriotic spirit of those who attended as participants and spectators. The parade stepped off at 10 a.m. at Todd Hill Circle led by Grand Marshal and GBFD Capt. Raymond Baker, Jr. – an honor that held special meaning as he, and the fire department family, mourned the loss of his father, Deputy Chief Raymond Baker, Sr., just two-and-a-half-months ago.

Following the GBFD Color Guard and a contingent of Firefighters, all dressed in their crisp uniforms, were veterans, families, elected officials, and dozens of children riding their festively decorated bicycles and scooters. Everyone waved the small American flags provided by the GBFD. In the line of march along Rt. 138 were groups such as Brownie Troop 2497 (whose members later sold everyone’s favorite Girl Scout cookies), and Town of Lewisboro officials including Supervisor Tony Goncalves and board members Andrea Rendo, Mary Shah and Rich Sklarin. Rendo marched with representatives of the family of the recently deceased Robert J. Castelli, a decorated military veteran who lived in Golden’s Bridge and served on the Town board.

Picking up the rear of the parade, which turned into the firehouse campus, was the fleet of Golden’s Bridge fire trucks, including its engines and tanker – and a fly car and ambulance of the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps, and a patrol unit of the Lewisboro Police Department. Waving enthusiastically to spectators along the parade route from his seat in Engine 138 was Honorary Grand Marshal Ben Foglio, a Golden’s Bridge youngster. But the parade was just the beginning of the morning’s festivities and deep meaning and emotion invoked by the event.

"It was wonderful to see the residents of our community join together in tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. We owe a debt of gratitude to those who gave their lives defending freedom for generations to come, for those of us standing here today," said event chair, and a Golden’s Bridge Fire Commissioner, Joseph Simoncini, who welcomed the crowd after Rabbi Arik Wolf of Chabad of Bedford gave the invocation.

The presentation of the colors and National Anthem segued into guest speakers, among them Supervisor Goncalves and U.S. Marine Sgt. Nestor Cerna – a local resident and veteran who served for nearly 12 years, four in active duty – and keynote speakers John Lemke, chair of the Lewisboro Veterans Advisory Committee who served as a 2nd Lieutenant in field artillery during the Vietnam War era, and Mark Vibert, retired Petty Officer 2nd Class, U.S. Navy Reserve, who saw active duty as an Electronics Technician 2nd Class. Both keynotes gave emotional tributes – Lemke spoke about Castelli’s service in the military and career as a public servant, while Vibert presented the dramatic history of two area residents, young lives lost in combat.

Cerna led the ceremonial folding of the GBFD’s retired flag, which was removed from the flagpole outside the firehouse by Fire Lt. Saurabh Mehta and Firefighter/Department Vice President Steven Mines, who assisted the former Marine in folding the flag with precision. The fire bell tolled as the flag was lowered, and To the Colors sounded as the new flag was raised, and then lowered to half-mast until noon that day.

Acknowledgement was given to GBFD Life Members and military veterans whose images appear on banners attached to a utility pole in front of the firehouse – among them Jack P. Alonzo, U.S. Navy, WWII; Joseph F. Simoncini Sr., Corporal, U.S. Army, Korean War, and John B. Winter Jr., Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army, WWII, a Bronze Star recipient killed in action.

The highlight of the ceremony came when the names of the 76 Golden’s Bridge residents, veterans of WWI and WWII, engraved on the American Legion Monument were read by Fire Commissioner Simoncini, Fire Chief Albert Melillo, and 1st Assistant Chief James McManus. The ceremony concluded with Lemke, Vibert, Cerna, and Charlie Green – the latter a U.S. Army veteran and, with 65 years as a Firefighter, the longest-tenured member of the Golden’s Bridge Fire Department – placing memorial wreaths of red, white and blue carnations, adorned with American flag ribbons, at the American Legion Monument.

Spectators and participants enjoyed refreshments of bagels, muffins, cupcakes, cookies, juice and coffee – and ice cream for kids of all ages from a truck that the GBFD arranged to be on site.