Friday, July 11, 2025
An invocation, written 13 years ago by former Reverend Kirtland Watkins of Sea Cliff United Methodist Church, was read in his tribute at Sea Cliff’s annual Memorial Day parade.
Watkins, who was a consistent presence at the village’s parade, died at 77 in August of last year.
Long-time Sea Cliff resident and former deputy mayor Philip Como shared the written work by Watkins at Clifton Park. Watkins first wrote and presented it on Memorial Day in 2012. Watkins’ invocation and prayer analyzed the sacrifices made by the men and women who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
“Remembering the soldiers of any war - calling out their names, singing their songs, or just thinking about the fact that they fought - brings out the real cost of war,” Como read from Watkins’ invocation. “The voices of the dead cry out to us for peace. It is a sacred thing to remember the soldiers, to allow their lives to place a claim upon us.”
The death toll of the American soldiers who fought in the Civil War, both world wars, Korean War, Vietnam War, Persian Gulf War, Iraq War, and the Afghan War were read in the next portion of the invocation. “Remember them,” Como read after the number of casualties from each war.
“Lord of the nations, on this day when we remember the struggles through which our country has gone in its efforts to preserve our liberties,” Como read from Watkin’s prayer. “We thank Thee for having made our country great and our people free,”
Watkins also wrote about the importance of religious liberty in the invocation. Como read about the importance of giving thanks for the right “to preach your word without hindrance and to worship according to the dictates of your holy and infallible word.” Also contained written in the invocation was a call for guidance for the nation’s leaders and protection for all its people.
“Guide those in authority and grant them wisdom so as to rule that peace may be ours according to Your will,” Como read. “Help us to use this freedom of this country to the fullest extent so that through the length and breadth of our nation, men may hear Your message of love and peace.”
The prayer concluded with a universal plea to “bring to us, and to all humanity, that peace which passes all understanding.”
Como, a Vietnam War veteran, and the commander of James F. Brengel American Legion Post 456 in Sea Cliff said that he had known Watkins for 15 years. “I thought he was a fantastic man of the cloth,” he said. “Most human beings are complicated. He had several chapters in his life.”
Bonnie Watkins, Kirtland’s wife, attended the parade and praised Como’s reading of her late husband’s words. “So many people came up to me, and they’re just like, wow,” the Sea Cliff Elementary School teacher said. “But they were very heartfelt, and they were telling what a great man he was, and that, whenever he spoke, it had a profound impact.”
After graduating high school in Huntington, Kirtland enlisted in the Marine Corps. After his time in the Marines, he held a variety of jobs, including bartending, teaching, and working in the service industry, for over 30 years.
Kirtland married Bonnie in 1991 in Sayville, as stated in his obituary. The couple moved to Oakdale, where they had their first three children: Mark, Kira, and Marli. Kirtland began his career in the ministry in Highland Mills, where they had their fourth child, Christina. The Watkins family then moved to Sea Cliff, where Kirtland continued his ministry at Sea Cliff Methodist Church.
“I thought he was a fine man and a credit to the community,” Como said after the reading. “I know the best tribute I can pay him is to read that invocation.”
Bonnie, who now lives in Holbrook, reflected on her husband’s impact on the village. She said that it was vital for her to continue trying to keep his memory alive.
“I just think Sea Cliff is a special place,” she said. “There’s a lot of special people there. I want his legacy to go on, and I want people to know how much he impacted people.”
