City Island Memorial Day Remembrance and Parade

City Island Memorial Day Remembrance and Parade

By Robert Press

It was a beautiful day to have a parade and Memorial Day remembrance to the 1.3 million United States soldiers who did not come home from the wars the country has fought in. Hundreds of people either marched or watched the City Island Parade that went from one end of City Island to the other, with three stops along the way to lay wreaths at Hawkins Park, The Pelham Cemetery, and Veterans Memorial Triangle ending at the Leonard H. Hawkins Post 156 on City Island Avenue for food and refreshments. 

The four main branches of the armed forces were represented, Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and others such as the Coast Guard, and Boy and Cub Scouts marched along with elected officials Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark, State Senator Nathalia Fernandez, Assemblyman Michael Benedetto, City Councilwoman Marjorie Velazquez, Community Board members,  Community leaders, and anyone who wanted to march to honor the veterans. 

The bagpipes were loud and clear.

The first stop was Hawkins Park to lay a few reefs in honor of Memorial Day.

Elected officials, Community Board members, and a couple of City Council candidates lined up on one walkway in Hawkins Park.

Of course the sailors would stand at attention behind the sculpture of a seal in Hawkins Park.

Councilwoman Velazquez led the march of elected officials and others into the Pelham Cemetery for another reef laying.

Reefs were placed in the Pelham Cemetery in honor of Memorial Day, as veterans look on.

Some future soldiers currently Boy Scouts also marched.

It was off to the next stop before ending at the Leonard H. Hawkins Post 156.