By Brendan Browne
The Ridgewood-Glendale Memorial Day Parade Monday was more solemn than in years past as marchers remembered the victims of the World Trade Center attack and the war on terror.
The parade kicked off as several political, community, and religious leaders urged celebrators to honor the fallen soldiers, war veterans and the victims of Sept. 11 in the fight against terrorism.
“Ridgewood and Glendale have never forgotten our veterans, but this year it has special meaning,” said state Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Ridgewood). “By standing together, we will keep what we treasure about our country — our freedom,” she added as people cheered loudly.
Asked if this year’s Memorial Day had special significance, City Councilman Dennis Gallagher (R-Middle Village) said “absolutely. Everyone feels that. It’s nice to see the renewed patriotism, especially with the young people who are here. People remember the importance of Memorial Day.”
Those politicians joined state Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale), several military units that sailed to New York during Fleet Week, countless civic organizations, war veterans, and students in the parade that headed down Myrtle Avenue from Cypress Avenue to Cooper Avenue.
Starting next to a statue commemorating the community’s fallen World War I soldiers, the 64th annual parade paused at the firehouse on Myrtle Avenue to pay a special tribute to firefighters and police officers who died in the World Trade Center collapse.
“Let us not forget the sacrifices of the New York Fire Department and the New York Police Department, “ said Henry Lippe, a commander in the Allied Veterans Memorial Committee of Greater Ridgewood and Glendale, which sponsored the parade. “We will never forget your sacrifice,” he told firefighters and police officers.
Firefighters sadly remembered their fallen comrades. “Basically it’s all about our heroes, our friends, our brothers that we lost,” said Larry Fremgen, a rookie firefighter from Glendale who has been training for about two months.
After a bugler played taps and four war veterans each fired three shots into the air, the parade headed to the Glendale Monument, which honors the community’s fallen war heroes, where wreaths were laid in remembrance.
“So long as we live, they too shall live in our hearts,” Lippe said of the veterans and Sept. 11 victims.
Reach reporter Brendan Browne by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or by phone at 229-0300, Ext. 155.
