Then & Now
by Highlands Historian Stella Bailey
You may or may not be aware that the idea of a Memorial Day goes back to 1868 when flowers were place don Union and Confederate soldiers’ graves. You can learn quite a bit of interesting facts on the Internet!
In 1873, New York was the first state to officially recognize the holiday Now it is celebrated in almost every state on the last Monday in May, as passed by Congress, with the 1971 National Holiday Act, to insure a three-day weekend for federal holidays.
Although in the Town of Highlands we faithfully continue our Memorial tribute to those who have fallen in the service to our country, traditional observances by many has diminished over the years. In 2004, Washington DC held its first Memorial Day parade in over 60 years. Our own local parades have not taken place for quite some time, although Mayor D’Onofrio has anticipated holding them again in the future.
One of the greatest parades took place in Highland Falls in June 1939. The local news carried the headline “Hundreds watch annual Memorial Day parade!”
Main St. was lined with people and auto parties from the South Gate to Parry’s Corner, up Mountain Ave. to the old school where the monument stood. Everyone worked together in fine spirits and the parade committee completed arrangements in less than three weeks!
There were 29 units assembled at the Artillery drill grounds at 9:30 a.m. The line got underway at 10 a.m. with a color guard consisting of a soldier, sailor and a marine leading. The fire squad followed with 11 men from the Engineer Detachment, next the grand marshal, Town and Village Boards and parade committee members.
The American Legion Junior Drum Corps was the first musical unit in line. Next in a car came four of the oldest Spanish War veterans followed by other Spanish War veterans and its auxiliary. A special float prepared by Mrs. Edwin Pascoe represented “The Coming of Peace”. A truckbed was covered with artificial grass in which white crosses were placed to resemble Flanders Field. On the float a soldier was explaining the war to a little boy. Mildred Heins, in costume, was representing peace.
Next was the 3rd Division, the O’Connor-Doyle Post No. 633, 100 strong! The Post’s auxiliary, the Brownies in uniform, the Girl and Boy Scouts; then the students from Ladycliff, girls in caps and gowns and boys in cadet uniforms.
The 4th Division was the high school band, the Junior Holy Name Society, the Knights of Columbus, and the Daughters of America. The 5th Division surprised everyone with the Highland Falls Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary appearing in new dark blue uniforms lined with gold colored satin! The local fire department with 60 members; and the West Point Fire Department with trucks and recorded music playing through two loud speakers.
In all, about 1000 were in line.
At the school, Professor O’Neill headed the program with music led by Mrs. Wakefield. A wreath was placed at the monument by the Spanish American War Auxiliary. Taps was sounded by John Woodruff, Jr. and Donald Yagel of the Bugle Corps followed by three volleys. Traffic was handled by Chief of Police Engels with assistance by the Military Police and Fort Montgomery Chief of Police Storms. What a parade!
With the pandemic restrictions in place, it seems a good time to adhere to the following (I quote the Internet):
“A National Moment of Remembrance resolution was passed in December 2000 which asked that at 3 p.m. local time for all Americans to voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence.”
