Hometown Pride At Southold Memorial Day Parade: Photos, Video

SOUTHOLD, NY — Southold Town's hometown pride was shining on Monday as a crowd turned out decked in red, white and blue to honor the nation's heroes at the annual Memorial Day Parade.

The 2018 Memorial Day Parade, held this year on Main Street in Southold, was hosted by American Legion Post Griswold-Terry-Glover Post 803.

A ceremony was held at the gazebo at Main Road and Youngs Avenue.

Charles Sanders, commander of the American Legion Post 803, said Memorial Day is a day of reverence for our departed heroes. "Let us renew our loyalty to our country and our flag," he said. "We are very lucky to be American, and to have the freedom we have today. It's because of the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice."

Sanders said he was proud of the many veterans in Southold's midst. "And I'm very proud of the Town of Southold, that we still honor our veterans and those who have made that ultimate sacrifice."

Former American Legion Post 803 Commander George Sullivan gave a brief history of Memorial Day, and said the day serves to "remind us all of our responsibility to continue to uphold the American principles our decorated veterans died for."

Memorial Day, he said, harkens back to Civil War; even after the Union was saved, "the problems of peace seemed as complex and fast as war. States were united in name only, with deep divisions."

In 1867, the women of Columbus, MI, made a pilgrimage to lay flowers on the graves of Confederate war heroes; but, seeing the Union graves cold and neglected, they decorated those graves, too, with no distinction between the heroes who died so others might live. Decoration Day, and then Memorial Day, followed as days of remembrance, he said.

Greenport Village Mayor George Hubbard thanked herors past and present who died protecting the nation and remembered their families, praying for them as well as for those still serving, that they come home safely.

Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell said there were two objectives on Memorial Day, to remember those who "have given their all" to protect the nation so that others can "continue to live in this great country."

Second, he said, it's critical to teach young people that "war didn't just take place in history books and movies. War was real. Sacrifice was real." Children must be taught so they can keep the memory of those who gave everything in the name of freedom are remembered far into the future, Russell said.

The parade began at Main Road and Boisseau and ended at the Legion Hall, where hot dogs and soda were served. Next, a ceremony will take place at Main Road and Youngs Avenue at 10:10 a.m.

Photos, videos by Lisa Finn.