FOR GOD AND COUNTRY: Being Seen and Heard at the 2022 Port Ewen Memorial Day Parade

With heads high along the parade route and heads bowed in prayer at Riverview Cemetery for the souls of Americans who have died in the military service of the nation, more than a dozen believers from Presentation Church at Port Ewen and Sacred Heart Church at Esopus formed one parish delegation at today's Memorial Day Parade in the Town of Esopus, New York.   The parade made its way to Riverview Cemetery at Ulster Park for a Memorial Day ceremony sponsored by the American Legion, post #1298.

Lifted with honor was our new parish banner, which made its debut about nine days before at our parish booth at a festival and car show at Ulster Park.  Mr. Chester Van Wegenen, the volunteer sexton at Presentation Church, made the poles to carry the banner.

Amidst shouts of "Happy Memorial Day', "God bless America," and "God and Country", parishioners were sighted along the parade route cheering our Catholic vanguard to and from Riverview cemetery.  Fr. Arthur Rojas, our Administrator, was one of the clerics who offered prayers at the memorial ceremony in the presence of local officials, officers and agents of uniformed services, veterans, and local residents.  The Port Ewen Fire Department sponsored a luncheon afterwards at the firehouse.

The generosity of the Esopus Community Foundation in sharing the photograph with our parish is most appreciated.