Denise Younger sang the national anthem
KINGSTON – Traffic was cordoned off along Fair Street in Uptown Kingston Friday evening, to mark the annual Memorial Day candlelight remembrance ceremony, held outside the Ulster County Office Building.
The event was postponed from Thursday due to rainy weather, still drawing the same size crowd as last year. Formalities centered on the Battle Cross and Roll of Honor, containing the names of 1,318 local fallen heroes, who fought and died in foreign wars throughout American history.
Officials, veterans’ and Boy Scout organizations participated with several dozen additional spectators. Ira Weiner, commander of the Ulster County American Legion, served as master of ceremonies, delivering the traditional remembrance passage. Denise Younger of Ellenville sang powerful renditions of the National Anthem and Amazing Grace in gospel style.
County Executive Michael Hein gave the keynote address, noting the recent
terrorist bombing in Manchester, England. “We continue to live in
a dangerous world,” Hein said, adding that the freedoms we enjoy
here in America were paid for by the sacrifices made by our veterans.
“For them, there simply are no words. Instead, we come together
and honor their memory in granite & bronze, and give pause to acknowledge
their dedication to our country, as well as their commitment to each and
every one of us — a small gesture, in the face of an unpayable debt.”
The county executive said he watches people daily from his office window when they stop at the five granite monuments in front of the county office building, place a hand on a name on the wall and weep. “This monument is a way for us to honor their memory. It is but a fraction of the high price that has been paid for our freedoms by our veterans across the country and from throughout our history.”
Hein added that the world is increasingly volatile, filled with unknown and unexplainable anger, anguish, division, war and terror. “In addition to honoring those no longer with us, we must also give thanks by the grace of God, we did not have to add a single name this year to the Roll of Honor, and we pray that we never will.”
Honoring those who served
Hein:
“We come together and honor their memory
”
