“Today we celebrate those who have served,” noted Reverend Megan Manas as Broad Channel began a day long observance of Memorial Day on Sunday, May 25.
Acknowledging the service, honor and sacrifice of “those we have known and those we would never know,” she said, “That spirit is alive in our community today.”
A strong sense of community pervaded the day’s ceremonies in this island neighborhood.
The morning started as veterans, residents, family, friends and supporters gathered at Christ Presbyterian by the Sea Church on Noel Road at 9 a.m. An honor guard of representatives of Broad Channel’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 260 and American Legion Post 1404 led the group into the church for a special service.
At the close a roll call of those lost in war was read out. Each name was followed by the Broad Channel road on which they had lived, places that are well known to this close knit community.
As each name was intoned, a responding voice called out “Absent.”
“Taps” was then played.
Afterward, at 10 a.m., the group moved on to St. Virgilius Roman Catholic Church just across the road.
Father Richard Ahlmeyer commented that the original date for Memorial Day “was picked because there were no battles fought on that day.”
“If you go to the American cemetery in France, as I have, you will see rows and rows and rows of graves. And then you begin to realize the tremendous sacrifice that has been made for places like this.”
“And you realize that is why tyranny will never succeed,” he said.
Again the names of the lost were read, and “Taps” was played.
As the town’s veterans processed out, those in the pews spontaneously stood and applauded them.
At 11 a.m. a memorial service was held at the Broad ChannelVolunteer Fire Department firehouse on Noel Road, across from the two churches.
Wreaths were placed and the fire bell was rung as the names of each volunteer firefighter and Ladies Auxiliary member who had passed away was read. The honored were noted as “Those who have answered the last call. (They are) those who have protected our community.”
At around 1:30 p.m. the Broad Channel Memorial Day Parade, led by the VFW and American Legion, stepped off on Cross Bay Boulevard.
The parade also included the ladies auxiliaries of organizations, the firefighters and trucks of the BCVFD, Councilman Eric Ulrich and Assemblyman Phillip Goldfeder, invited veterans for the St. Albans domauxiliary and others.
The parade stopped to lay wreaths at the flagpole at the 17th Road Park. A four man squad also fired a series of volleys into the air salute. “We are here not to mark a war,” one speaker intoned, “but to honor the warrior.”
The parade continued northward to the George Reikers Memorial. Wreaths were laid, and Councilman Ulrich and Assemblyman Goldfeder added their remarks to the proceedings.
After the parade all were invited to the VFW Post on Shad Creek Road, where they enjoyed grilled hot dogs, cold beverages and a sunny, warm afternoon beside Jamaica Bay.
Perhaps Memorial Day in Broad Channel was summed up best by VFW Post Commander Pete Zaun.
“On this Memorial Day,” he said, “we thank each soldier, sailor, Marine, airman, or Coast Guardsman who died in service to America. We cannot shake their hands or give them a hug today, but our thoughts and prayers will be known to them.”
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