UPDATED ROUTE - Dutchess County to Honor Those Who Gave All

Please Note: The Dutchess County Memorial Day Convoy route will now travel along Verplanck Avenue to Route 52 in the City of Beacon. The actual route may vary slightly on the day of the event as circumstances dictate in each municipality.

Dutchess County to Honor Those Who Gave All

Annual ceremony at Dutchess County War Memorial,
vehicle convoy among Memorial Day observances

Poughkeepsie … Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and Adam Roche, Director of the County’s Division of Veterans’ Services, invite residents to take part in several special Memorial Day ceremonies throughout the county to honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the nation.

On Sunday, May 30th at 8 p.m., the Walkway Over the Hudson will host a sunset Memorial Day Eve flag-changing ceremony to honor local servicemembers who lost their lives defending their country.

On Monday, May 31st, Dutchess County Veterans’ Services will host its annual ceremony at the Dutchess County War Memorial in Poughkeepsie at 11 a.m. In addition, a convoy of law enforcement and military vehicles will travel throughout Dutchess County communities; the convoy will travel in both an inner and outer loop throughout the county, beginning at 9 and 11:30 a.m., respectively. A map of the convoy’s routes is available online.

County Executive Molinaro said, “From its founding, our country has relied on the selfless service of men and women to protect it and safeguard the freedoms we hold dear to this day. Sadly, many have paid with their lives to preserve these liberties, and we honor these valiant defenders of freedom on Memorial Day so their sacrifices will never be forgotten. By hosting our annual Memorial Day events, Dutchess County continues to keep these heroes’ legacies alive for future generations, and I encourage residents throughout our community to attend one of these ceremonies and pay homage to those who gave all.”

The Walkway Over the Hudson will host its May 30th event at the flagpole in the center of the pedestrian span and will feature a flag-changing ceremony. A retired flag presentation will be performed by the Pleasant Valley American Legion, and a member of Buglers Across America will play “Taps,” and the Hudson Valley Alumni Guard will be among the local groups taking part.

Following the success of last year’s successful Memorial Day and Veterans Day convoys, the Division of Veterans’ Services has again invited municipalities throughout Dutchess County to take part in a convoy of county, police, fire and local municipality vehicles to traverse the county. Residents can view the convoy from alongside its route and are urged to hang American flags along the route. Children whose families who live along the route are encouraged to paint and draw flags to be displayed in their windows, or on driveways.

The convoy will make two loops throughout Dutchess County: an inner loop, which begins at 9 a.m., prior to the ceremony at the Dutchess County War Memorial, and a larger route following the ceremony; the larger route disembarks from the Dutchess County War Memorial at 11:30 a.m.

The County’s Memorial Day wreath-laying ceremony at the Dutchess County War Memorial, located at the intersection of Raymond Avenue and Main Street in Poughkeepsie, will recognize Dutchess County residents who lost their lives during military service. Local Boy Scouts will participate in the tribute, as will County Executive Molinaro, Director Roche and others.

Director Roche said, “With the relaxing of COVID-related protocols that impacted the Memorial Day events throughout our community in 2020, we are thrilled to again offer our full ceremony at the Dutchess County War Memorial this year, while continuing the Memorial Day convoy, which attracted so many along the route last year, when we couldn’t get together – all in our ongoing tribute to those who gave their lives to protect our liberty.”

Additionally, Veterans’ Services has reached out to local municipalities and community organizations and has compiled a listing of events taking place on or around Memorial Day. Residents should check with event organizers to be aware of COVID-19 precautionary guidelines for the event.

2021 Memorial Day Community Observances in Dutchess County

(Based on information provided by municipalities and community organizations,
listed by date, then alphabetically by municipality)

Wappingers Falls
Saturday, May 29th @ 11:45 A.M.
Veteran’s Mural Dedication
Location: 8 School Street, Wappingers Falls
Hosted by: VFW Post #5913
Point of Contact: Joseph Angelo @ (845) 297-9813

Pawling
Sunday, May 30th @ 11:15 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 22 Coulter Avenue, Pawling
Hosted by: Congregation of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church & American Legion Hasler Kamp Post # 215, Honor Guard
Point of Contact: Liz Nevermann @ (914) 374-7589, beachwalker1972@yahoo.com

City of Poughkeepsie
Sunday, May 30th @ 3 P.M.
Ceremony
Location: Soldier & Sailor Fountain, South Ave.
Hosted by: City of Poughkeepsie and American Legion Lafayette Post # 37
Point of Contact: Jacquemae Perotta @ (845) 452-5960, perrotta305@aol.com

City of Poughkeepsie
Sunday, May 30th, 2021 @ 8 P.M.
Ceremony
Location: Flagpole in the center of the Walkway over the Hudson
Hosted by: Walkway Over the Hudson
Point of Contact: Walkway Over the Hudson @ (845) 454-9649

Village of Rhinebeck
Sunday, May 30th @ 11 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: 6368 Mill St, Rhinebeck
Hosted by: Rhinebeck Reformed Church & Montgomery AL Post #429
Point of Contact: Pastor Louis Perez @ (845) 876-3727

Amenia
Monday, May 31st @ 11 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: Amenia Veterans Memorial Park
Hosted by: VFW Post # 5444
Point of Contact: Vicki Doyle @ (845) 489-7826, vdoyle@ameniany.gov

Beacon
Monday, May 31st @ 11 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: 413 Main Street, Beacon
Hosted by: Beacon American Legion Post # 203
Point of Contact: Tony Lassiter @ (845) 489-7937

Beekman
Monday, May 31st @ 10 A.M.
Parade & Ceremony
Location: Town Hall and Fire House
Hosted by: Town of Beekman
Point of Contact: Laureen Abbatantuono @ (845) 724-5300 ext 221, townclerk@townofbeekmanny.us

East Fishkill
Monday, May 31st @ 10:45 A.M.
Parade and Ceremony
Location: East Fishkill Community Center and East Fishkill Memorial, Rt 82 and Beekman Road
Hosted by: Manny Bacon American Legion Post # 1758
Point of Contact: Jim Reynolds @ (845) 221-7273

Village of Fishkill
Monday, May 31st @ 1 P.M.
Parade and Ceremony
Location: Main Street and Broad Street
Hosted by: VFW Post # 1286 and Village of Fishkill
Point of Contact: Julie Spann @ (845) 896-9215

Hyde Park
Monday, May 31st @ 8 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: Dinsmore Park on Old Post Road in the hamlet of Staatsburg
Hosted by: Community Volunteers
Point of Contact: Bob Linville @ (845) 551-9138

Hyde Park
Monday, May 31st @ 10:30 A.M. – 12:30 P.M.
Caravan Parade & Ceremony
Location: Hyde Park Town Hall & Hyde Park War Memorial
Hosted by: Hyde Park Recreation Dept. & Hyde Park American Legion Post # 1303
Point of Contact: Teresa Gasparini (845) 229-8086, tgasparini@hydeparkny.us

LaGrange
Monday, May 31st @ 11 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: 120 Stringham Road, LaGrange
Hosted by: Town of LaGrange
Point of Contact: Kelly Tighe @ (845) 452-9064, ktighe@lagrangeny.gov

Millerton
Monday, May 31st @ 10 A.M.
Parade and Ceremony
Location: Century Blvd. to Irondale Cemetery to Veterans Park
Hosted by: Millerton American Legion Post 178
Point of Contact: Sean Klay @ (518) 929-3624 or sean@legionpost178.org

Pleasant Valley
Monday, May 31st @ 11 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: Pleasant Valley Mill site, Main St.
Hosted by: Pleasant Valley/Millbrook American Legion Post # 739
Point of Contact: Ross Hartlip @ (914) 489-1164

Pine Plains
Monday, May 31st @ 10:30 A.M.
Parade & Ceremony
Location: Pine Plains Firehouse to Town Clock Memorial to Evergreen Cemetery
Hosted by: Shekomeko American Legion Post # 426 and Pine Plains VFW Post # 5519
Point of Contact: Marie Stewart @ (845) 546-7349 one.phoenix.rhysing@gmail.com

Town of Poughkeepsie
Monday, May 31st @ 11 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: Dutchess County War Memorial-corner of Raymond Ave. and Main St.
Hosted by: Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro and Dutchess County Division of Veterans’ Services
Point of Contact: Dutchess County Division of Veterans Services @ (845) 486-2060

Red Hook
Monday, May 31st @ 11 A.M.
Parade and Ceremony
Location: Red Hook Memorial Square Park
Hosted by: Red Hook VFW Post # 7765
Point of Contact: William C. Moore @ (845) 758-8175, wmoore@hvc.rr.com

Village of Rhinebeck
Monday, May 31st @ 10 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: Doughboy Memorial Park/Rhinebeck Rural Cemetery, Mill Road 
Hosted by: Montgomery American Legion Post # 429
Point of Contact: Dennis J. McGuire @ (845) 656-1839, denles69@aol.com

Tivoli
Monday, May 31st @ 11 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: Veteran’s Monument, Broadway
Hosted by: Harris Smith American Legion Post # 524
Point of Contact: Commander Thomas Mabie @ (845) 758-1330

Union Vale
Monday, May 31st @ 9 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: On-The-Green, Verbank (Town of Union Vale)
Hosted by: Union Vale Fire Company
Point of Contact: Cindy Di Citio @ (845) 677-9324

Wappinger
Monday, May 31st @ 2 P.M.
Ceremony
Location: Brexel-Schlathaus Park, corner of Myers Corners and All Angels Hill roads
Hosted by: Town of Wappinger Recreation Department
Point of Contact: Jessica Fulton @ (845) 297-3670

Wappingers Falls
Monday, May 31st @ 10 A.M.
Ceremony
Location: Mesier Park, Village of Wappingers Falls
Hosted by: J.M. Goring-WM. Hurtz American Legion Post # 427 and VFW # 5913
Point of Contact: Raymond C. Chase Jr. @ (845) 297-2943