Poughkeepsie Journal from Poughkeepsie, New York • Page A4

4A FROM PAGE ONE Tuesday, May 29, 2012 POUGHKEEPSIE JOURNAL Matt Fenaroli, a 10th-grader at Red Hook High School, plays with the school's marching band In Monday's Memorial Day parade In Red Hook. PHOTOS BY KARL RABEPOUGHKEEPSIE JOURNAL Stanley Zatwarnlckl, 92, of Milan salutes during Red Hook's Memorial Day ceremony. Zatwarnlckl Is a D-Day survivor who served with the 714th Tank Battallion under Gen. George Patton. See a video of Zatwarnicki telling his story at www.pough keepsie journal.com Roger Loughran, 2, of Red Hook watches the Memorial Day parade In Red Hook.

Veterans Continued from Page 3A "I am very patriotic, and the vets deserve all the honor and respect we can give them," he said. "Don't think of yourself more highly than you should, but treat others more highly than yourself." Christina Yatsko Poughkeepsie Korean War veteran Verne Boddy's wish is that one day, people will spend Memorial Day honoring those who died in past wars, not present ones. "Hopefully, we won't have any new wars," said Boddy, 79, a City of Poughkeepsie resident. "That is my wish for this country." Boddy was one of about 200 people who attended a Memorial Day ceremony at the Dutchess County War Memorial on Raymond Avenue and Main Street in the Town of Poughkeepsie. A small group of Arlington Middle School students sung the World War I-era song, "In Flanders Field," and middle school student Robert Smalls played "Taps." LaGrange resident Laura Schock, who said she came to see her middle school-aged child sing in the choir, spoke to her 4-year-old son, J.J.

Schock about the importance of the holiday. "So hold your flag up and be proud," she said to the boy, who was seated in a stroller, waving a small flag. Representing Semper Fi Parents of the Hudson Valley, a support group for parents of soldiers overseas, LaGrange resident Larry Zwelling spoke about why people should spend Memorial Day honoring those who died in service to their country. "Our freedoms come from our Constitution and our laws," he said, but added that they are provided by members of the armed forces, and have been since 1776. "Please remember Memorial Day," he said.

Emily Stewart Red Hook The sun richly blessed the participants in and viewers of the Red Hook Memorial Day parade. Sponsored by VFW Post 7765, assemblage began at the high school, and the honored veterans led the energetic and colorful throng through the village, ending at Memorial Square Park for wreath-laying and observances. An addition this year was the Red Hook Bicentennial float. Christopher Klose, alias Cornelius El-mendorph, rode a vintage Allis Chalmers tractor pulling a trailer on which sat a number of community members who volunteered to dress in the style of 1812. Klose is a veteran of another sort: he was a member of the Peace Corps, and his brothers served in Vietnam.

"We all served our country," he said. "There are fewer Memorial Day commemorations these days. Red Hook still has the heart and soul of this area and embraces a patriotic vision of America when we were all together, regardless of economic class," he added. After the services were over and the sidewalk viewers had taken their folding chairs home, VFW Commander and U.S. Navy veteran Bill Moore was quietly contemplating the two new granite memorials in Memorial Park to honor the fallen veterans of the Korean and Vietnam wars.

Funds are being raised for another granite memorial, in memory of Red Hook veterans who lost Helen Parsons, whose family donated the monument, with the help of Boy Scout Troop 2609 members Joseph Geraci 17, Phillip Sanzo, 16, Frank Sanzo, 13, and Matt Goldsmith, 14, laid the final bricks on the memorial as the new flag slowly waved above them. "(The event) gives everyone an opportunity to say thank you to the vets for protecting our freedoms," said Ralph Holt, 83, Korean War veteran and chairman of recreation for the town. "This is who we are as a people." Chris Valdez Wappingers Falls Along with remembering those who gave their lives, residents of the Village of Wappingers Falls honored four men. William Reiner was in World War II in the Army. Henry Hochlowski was a prisoner of war in World War II.

Joseph Colletti was in Korea, and Thomas Ciarfella served in World War II. Dressed in red, white and blue, local resident Sallyanne Trabucco said: "We are here to honor a good friend and wonderful man, Joe Colletti, for his service in Korea, as well as all of those in the military. Me and my husband Michael met Joe on our trip to Ireland." Barry Hochlowski was at the ceremony to support his father, Henry Hochlowski, 86, and his mother. "Without mom, he would be nothing," said Barry Hochlowski, the oldest son of Henry Hochlowski. Judge Raymond Chase of Wappingers Falls praised the fallen heroes by ringing the bell and informing the audience that every time the bell is rung, a veteran has lost their life and will always be remembered.

"Freedom is never free," Chase said after ringing the bell for the last time. Christina Yatsko their lives in Iraq and Afghanistan. Arlene Wege Rhinebeck Rhinebeck residents honored the sacrifice of fallen troops with prayers, music, reading of the honor roll and a wreath-laying ceremony at the memorial at Rhinebeck Cemetery by devoted individuals who later also would serve in the Rhinebeck town events. Bill Cotting, past chief of the Rhinebeck Fire Department, was in charge of the agenda. "It's small," said Cot-ting, "but it's important, and we want to keep it going." At the Dutchess County Fairgrounds, parade Chairman Wayne Rifen-burgh oversaw the assemblage of about 800 participants in the annual Memorial Day Parade, which attracted many residents and visitors filling up the sidewalks of the route.

"This is probably the biggest Memorial Day we've had so far," Rifen-burgh said. "We're happy that we are able to honor so many veterans who attend, but this is also a wonderful community event." It seemed as if every aspect of the community was represented as the marching bands and festive floats and Sinterklaas hobby-horses and scouts and animals, all preceded by the veterans, made their way through the town. A wreath was placed at the "Doughboy Statue," flags were raised along the route and the memorial services were held at the Civil War Monument in Rhinebeck Cemetery. Guest speaker, Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Stark, a Rhinebeck native and much-decorated Air Force veteran, addressed the crowd.

He recalled Memorial Day 2003 in Iraq when two comrades lost their lives just days before. "Veterans know firsthand why a fitting tribute to the fallen is required," he said. Arlene Wege Stanford "Remembering our fallen once a year does not seem enough. The spouses, fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and children remember every day," Stanford American Legion Commander Charlie Shaw said as he began the Stanfordville Memorial Day service. Shaw, who was in the Army Corps of Engineers, said there were almost 350 attendees honoring those who gave their lives.

"The empty seat at the dinner table, the smaller gatherings on Thanksgiving and the voice of a loved one heard only as a distant memory are constant reminders that they are gone," Shaw continued. The parade set off at 9 a.m. at the Grange Hall and ended at the Bangall Memorial in Bangall, where everyone united for the Memorial Day service. The parade consisted of members of the American Legion, Boy Scouts, Lions Club, fire department and Pine Plains firing squad. Helene Sellerberg, 63, has attended the parade and service for 30 years.

With a Navy veteran father and numerous other family members serving, including her son and daughter-in-law, she was raised with a strong sense of patriotism and feels especially connected to Stanfordville's Memorial Day events. "It's always very humbling and always makes you grateful for the things you have received as a result of our veterans and our armed forces," Sellerberg said. "Living in this particular community has always been very positive." Legion Sergeant at Arms Bill Reilly, who served in the same unit as Shaw, noted that flags are placed at the grave of ev ery veteran in Stanfordville cemeteries. Reilly also escorted community members as they placed red, white and blue wreaths on memorials representing different wars. Shaw emphasized the significance of the parade and service for a small town like Stanfordville.

"For our community, this is an important service American Legion takes complete responsibility for every year," he said. "We all know each other, know the spouses of those left behind." Rachel Freeman Union Vale In both celebration and remembrance, about 20 people joined the firefighters of Union Vale Fire Department in a Memorial Day march. For some, it was for the first time. Such was the case for many Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts who carried the flag in the march. Rachel Greene, 10, from Troup 466 earned her Memorial Day badge last year for marching, but had never participated in the flag ceremony before.

"We put flags on all the graves, too," she added, citing Union Vale's recognition of those veterans from their own community. Of her personal connection with veterans she said, "My dad was in the Navy, and my grandfather was a World War II veteran." Dave McMorris, 66, is no stranger to the Memorial Day traditions. McMorris has spent 22 years performing in ceremonies, not only a veteran of Vietnam but with the Union Vale Fire Station, having served for 40 years. At the station, he is known as the "Unofficial Head of Veteran Affairs" spearheading the department's efforts to honor not only those who have served, but those currently serving, by sending about 1,000 packages overseas this year. "Personally, I don't think I've done anything special for the veterans -they've done something special for me," McMorris said humbly.

"Memorial Day is a day set aside to remember those who gave everything." Union Vale Fire Department President John J. Welsh echoed his sentiments. "We lay wreaths, salute the flag and say a prayer for our servicemen and -women who died," he said. "We do it out of patriotism: to show respect for those who have given their lives for our freedom." Marie Solis Wappinger Waving miniature American flags and wearing clothes that demonstrate their patriotic pride, nearly 200 Town of Wappinger residents assembled to pay homage to the departed troops at Schlathaus Park. Sen.

Steve Saland, R-Poughkeepsie, implored the crowd to show gratitude for the military's response to tyranny, defense of freedoms and protection of peace. Saland said more New York residents served in the military and earned Medals of Honor than any other state. "(The holiday) is a me-morialization for those who sacrificed their lives to ensure our democracy," he said. As the Hudson Valley Council Band played patriotic tunes, the townspeople raised a new flag at the war memorial and honored fallen soldiers like Sgt. Matt Palmateer, who was the first Dutchess County resident to die in Afghanistan in 2008, and their families by hanging three wreaths off the monument.

"I'm more than honored," said Palmateer's father, Charlie. "It's not only for him but for all the service people. We want them to come home as soon as possible.".