Walkway Welcomes Veterans To Observe Memorial Day

On Sunday, May 30, the Walkway Over the Hudson hosted a sunset Memorial Day Eve flag-changing ceremony to honor local service members who lost their lives defending their country.

The event was scheduled to take place at the flagpole in the center of the span but was relocated to the pavilion on the Highland side and include a flag-changing ceremony. An all-girls troop of the Boy Scouts of America, Troop 3055, began the ceremony by leading the attendees with the Pledge of Allegiance. The retired flag ceremony was performed by the Pleasant Valley American Legion Post 739.

Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan, a graduate of the USMA at West Point was joined by his Dutchess counterpart Marc Molinaro. Dutchess County Director of Veterans Services Adam Roche and Ulster County Veteran Services Director Mark Cozzupoli represented their respective departments.

Molinaro said, “This day is not just names etched on a brass plaque but real human beings whose families carry on with an immense loss.” He also said, “It is up to us to give meaning to that loss and to recognize that there are families who struggle with that loss.” Ryan, who was deployed to Iraq during his military service, said “Memorial Day is a day that we must grapple with the human cost of our decision to send our young men and women into combat.”