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Hundreds commemorate fallen veterans

City hosts annual Memorial Day ceremony

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As the rain held off on a cloudy Monday morning, hundreds of people lined West Beech Street and Park Avenue to watch as the annual Memorial Day Parade marched by.

More than 500 people, including 87 Veterans of Foreign Wars members, participated in the annual parade, which is the city’s tribute to the fallen members of the country’s armed forces.

The Long Beach High School marching band led the parade, which began at Ohio Avenue and West Beech Street at 10 a.m.

More than a dozen groups and organizations joined the parade, including the Fire Department, Police Department, Ancient Order of the Hibernians Division 17, Long Beach Lions Club, Long Beach lifeguards, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Civil Service Employees Association, Long Beach Auxiliary Police and the Police Benevolent Association.

This year’s grand marshal was “all the young veterans from the Gulf War to today,” VFW Post 1384 Commander Dan McPhee said. A group of about 50 veterans who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan wore their ribbons on their shirts and marched alongside the participating organizations.

After the parade, Acting City Manager and Police Commissioner Michael Tangney led a ceremony in a bandshell outside City Hall to commemorate the fallen veterans. Members of the VFW, the American Legion and Sisters in Arms were joined by city, county and state officials, including State Sen. Todd Kaminksy, County Legislator Denise Ford and City Council members. Ford spoke about the importance of Memorial Day and perceiving it as something more than a day to enjoy barbecues with friends.

McPhee echoed the sentiment, saying that the parade is meant to show “the children of today what it’s all about.”

“A lot of people know it as a day to go to the beach, but it’s more important than that,” he said.

Rosemary Wagner, the Gold Star Mother of the late Vietnam veteran William Walter Wagner, was honored for her family’s sacrifice and offered a bouquet of yellow flowers by Barbara McPhee, president of the VFW Auxiliary.

Peggy Costigan, president of the American Legion Auxiliary and VFW member, sang “Amazing Grace” as many in the crowd chimed in, and ended her presentation with a rendition of “God Bless America.”

Joe Karom, commander of the AMVETS, said a prayer for all the prisoners of war and those missing in action, and Sgt. Alison Bardeguez, of the VFW, sang the national anthem.

The invocation was offered by Monsignor Donald Beckmann of St. Ignatius Martyr Roman Catholic Church, and the benediction was given by Rabbi Eli Goodman of Chabad of the Beaches.