Even as several counties in the Hudson Valley are scheduled to begin the reopening process this week, ongoing restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak
conspired to force widespread changes to annual Memorial Day observances scheduled around Westchester County for May 25. But even though municipalities
were unable to hold their traditional parades and public remembrances in honor of the men and women who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. Armed
Forces, many found other ways to express their gratitude to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our nation.
While some municipalities invited residents to stagger visits to war memorials located inside the communities, others—including the cities of New Rochelle, Rye
and White Plains—held virtual events to celebrate our fallen soldiers and their contributions to our country.
Nicole Levitsky, Rye TV’s public access coordinator, helped put together one such event once it became apparent that social-distancing measures would necessitate a different approach. “In Rye, Memorial Day is always a huge deal,” Levitsky said. “If you look at 2019, you can see how many people we had on the
village green, not to mention in the parade.”
Rye TV worked with city officials, as well as members of the American Legion Post 128—including Commander Fred de Barros—to produce a 30-minute video
that streamed online at 10 a.m. and aired throughout the day on the city’s public access channel. “We had talked about possibly doing a service on zoom, but ultimately decided to videotape everyone separately,” Levitsky said.
The service featured a reading of the names of Rye residents who have died while serving in the armed forces, as well as appearances by Rye Mayor Joshua Cohn
and Westchester County Executive George Latimer, among others. Latimer commended the nation’s fallen heroes during his speech and said the day is a solemn
reminder of the cost of the freedoms we enjoy as Americans. “The plaque outside [Rye] City Hall represents the names of those who did not come back,”
Latimer said. “That’s why Memorial Day exists, so we can remember them, so that their sacrifice can never be forgotten.”
As Americans grapple with a national health crisis that has claimed nearly 100,000 lives—more than were lost in the Korean and Vietnam wars combined—
Latimer also spoke of the sacrifices made by countless Americans during the current pandemic and said that Memorial Day should be a reminder of one’s duty to the well-being of the nation at-large.
“Every generation is called to take some action that is over and above themselves. Now our generation has a different type of sacrifice in front of us, but on
Memorial Day we have to remember what the ultimate sacrifice means,” he said. “The ultimate sacrifice is not just a sacrifice of our economic strength,
it’s not the sacrifice of doing the things we’d like to do, it is a sacrifice of life; of everything we hold dear.”
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