POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and Adam Roche, Director of the County’s Division of Veterans’ Services, are inviting residents to take part in a special Memorial Day ceremony and countywide convoy to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.
On Monday, May 31, Dutchess County Veterans’ Services with the assistance of MHA Dutchess Vet2Vet, will have a two-stage convoy of military, police, fire, and civilian vehicles that will travel throughout Dutchess County to honor the county’s fallen heroes. Between the two loops, Molinaro, Roche, and others will hold the wreath-laying ceremony at the Dutchess County War Memorial at 11:00 a.m.
The first loop of the convoy will begin at the Dutchess County War Memorial in the Arlington section of the Town of Poughkeepsie and travel towards Pleasant Valley, escorted by the Arlington Fire Department. The approximately 2-hour trip will travel through Pleasant Valley, Clinton, Stanford, Washington, Millbrook, Union Vale, and LaGrange, before returning to the War Memorial for an 11:00 a.m. service. The War Memorial is located at the intersection of Raymond Avenue and Main Street in the Town of Poughkeepsie.
The second, outer loop of the convoy, will leave after the ceremony at 11:30 a.m., escorted by the City of Poughkeepsie Fire Department. It will travel through the city and then head south on Route 9 to the Town of Poughkeepsie, proceeding through the Village Wappingers Falls, Wappinger, Fishkill, Beacon, Village of Fishkill, East Fishkill, Beekman, Pawling, Village of Pawling, Dover, Amenia, North East, Village of Millerton, Pine Plains, Milan, Red Hook town and village, Rhinebeck town and village, and Hyde Park before disbanding in Poughkeepsie.
A map of the inner and outer loops of the caravan can be found online here.
Following the success of last year’s successful Memorial Day and Veterans Day convoys, the Division of Veterans’ Services Director Adam Roche, a battle-tested Marine Corps veteran, is encouraging public participation in the convoy. Residents can view the convoy from alongside its route and are urged to hang American flags along the route. Children of families who live along the route are encouraged to paint and draw flags to be displayed in their windows, or on driveways.
After attending a rain-soaked Memorial Day ceremony on the Walkway Over the Hudson Sunday night, Roche continued planning for Monday’s tributes. “Our fallen soldiers, sailors, and airmen willingly sacrificed their lives to protect our freedoms. I hope that people are willing to brave the weather and line the routes of the convoy to honor the heroes and keep their memories alive.”
The County’s Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Dutchess County War Memorial, located at the intersection of Raymond Avenue and Main Street in the Town of Poughkeepsie, will recognize Dutchess County residents who lost their lives during military service. The 11:00 a.m. service will be held between the first and second loops of the convoy and the public is welcome to attend.
“By hosting our annual Memorial Day events, Dutchess County continues to keep these heroes’ legacies alive for future generations, and I encourage residents throughout our community to attend one of these ceremonies and pay homage to those who gave all.”
Roche touted the successes of the previous convoys and is looking forward to a great turnout for this one. “The Memorial Day convoy attracted so many along the route last year, when we couldn’t get together –this year should be better now that COVID restrictions are being eased.”
After a rain-soaked Memorial Day ceremony on the Walkway Over the Hudson Sunday night, Roche added, “Our fallen soldiers, sailors, and airmen sacrificed their lives to protect our freedoms. I hope that people are willing to brave the weather and line the routes of the convoy to honor the lives lost.”
The approximate times for the inner and outer loops of the convoy are listed below.
Inner Loop:
9:00 A.M. Leaving Dutchess County War Memorial with Arlington Fire Department
9:15 A.M. Picking up Arlington Fire Dept. Station 4 at Victory Lane traveling to Pleasant Valley
9:20 A.M. Picking up Pleasant Valley Fire Dept. traveling on Route 44 to NYSP Troop K
9:30 A.M. Picking up East Clinton Fire Dept. and continue on Route 82 to Clinton Corners Road to Salt Point Turnpike to Market Lane
9:40 A.M. Picking up Stanford Fire Dept. and continue on Route 82 to Hunns Lake Rd
Convoy will continue on Bangel Amenia Road to Route 44
9:55 A.M. Picking up Millbrook Fire Dept. continue through Village of Millbrook to the intersection of Route 343 and Route 82
10:05 A.M. Picking up Union Vale Fire Dept. at intersection Route 343 and Route 82 continue on Route 82 to N. Cross Rd
10:15 A.M. Picking up LaGrange Fire Dept. and continue on Route 55 toward Fireman’s Way
10:35 A.M. Picking up LaGrange Fire Dept. #2 at Fireman’s Way and continue to westbound arterial to Raymond Ave to Dutchess County War Memorial
10:45 A.M. Arrive at Dutchess County War Memorial
Outer loop:
11:30 A.M. Leaving Dutchess County War Memorial with City of Poughkeepsie Fire Dept. to Route 9, continue on Route 9
11:45 A.M. Picking up New Hamburg Fire Dept. at Old Post Rd, continue south to Route 9D
12:00 P.M. Picking up Wappingers Falls Fire Dept. at Delavergne Ave, continue south on Route 9D
12:10 P.M. Picking up Hughsonville Fire Dept. and New Hackensack Fire Dept. at Middlebush Road, continuing south on Route 9D
12:15 P.M. Picking up Chelsea Fire Dept. at Old State Rd, continue south on 9D
12:30 P.M. Picking up Castle Point VA Fire Dept. at Castle Point, continue south on Route 9D into City of Beacon
12:45 P.M. Picking up Beacon Fire Dept. at Route 9D at Verplanck Ave, continue on Verplank Ave to Route 52, Fishkill Ave to Fishkill
1:00 P.M. Picking up Glenham Fire Dept, Rombout Fire Dept and Fishkill Fire Dept. on Route 52 through Town and Village of Fishkill across Route 9 into Town of East Fishkill
1:30 P.M. Picking up East Fishkill Fire Dept. at Route 82 and Palen Rd
1:45 P.M. Picking up Beekman Fire Dept. at Beekman Rd and Sylvan Lake Rd
2:00 P.M. Picking up Pawling Fire Dept. at Route 292 and Route 55 to Dutcher Ave, to East Main St.
2:15 P.M. Bathroom Break – Pawling Fire Dept.
2:30 Picking up Dover Fire Dept. at Route 22 and Hurds Corners Rd
2:45 P.M. Picking up Amenia Fire Dept. at Route 22 and Metro-North Station
3:00 P.M. Picking up Millerton Fire Dept. at Route 22 and Sharon Station Rd
3:15 P.M. Picking up Pine Plains Fire Dept. at Route 199 and Skunks Misery Rd
3:45 P.M. Picking up Milan Fire Dept., Red Hook Fire Dept and Rhinebeck Fire Dept. Route 199, continue on Route 199 to Route 9 south
3:15 P.M. Picking up Hyde Park Fire Dept, Roosevelt Fire Dept. on Route 9
4:30 P.M. Picking up Fairview Fire Dept. on Route 9, continue to Dutchess County War Memorial
