The parade was scheduled to step off from the Community Center at 10 am. Post members Lance Ashworth, Jeff Boes, Bill Kriebel, Jeff Miedowski, Bill Meyer, Dan Oberhauser and Commander Jim Reynolds assembled at the Center in preparation. The Color Guard was comprised of Jeff Miedowski (U.S. Flag), Dan Oberhauser (American Legion Flag), Jeff Boes (Rifle) and Bill Meyer (Rifle).

The parade then proceeded to the Veterans Memorial Park where the ceremony was held. Commander Reynolds was the Master of Ceremonies, and incoming Commander Lance Ashworth spoke. Other post members not in the parade were Dan Briscoe, Don Burns, Mike Miller and John Polasko. Dan, Don and John participated in the wreath-laying ceremony

Following the ceremony, a cake was presented to honor outgoing Commander Reynolds. All persons present were invited to have some cake, which was enjoyed by all.

Post members met in the John Jay High School parking lot about 7 a.m. before proceeding to the school library for breakfast. There, they were met by a spread put on by the ladies of the school's PTSA. Joining them were students from the Renaissance Club who had placed American Flags around the school's driveway. The club members joined in conversations with many Post members. After breakfast, the members went back to the parking lot where they assembled in preparation for the ceremony. Joining them was a beautiful Shelby Cobra built by the John Jay Racing Club.

While we were waiting, hundreds of students exited from the school to observe the program. When they had all assembled in front of the school, the ceremony began, with Tom Masch' Jeep in the lead, the Cobra and the Post's color guard following.

Post Commander Jim Reynolds gave a talk on the importance of Memorial Day, followed by remarks by Virgil Capollari, WCSD Board Member who is also a vice commander of the Wappingers VFW. Kevin Hines then raised the flag while a student played "Taps" on his trumpet. The Color Guard then marched to the end of the parking lot where the "Fall out" order ended the ceremony.

Post members in attendance were Lance Ashworth, Jim Broughton, John Call, Rich Flacinski, Kevin Hines, Bill Kriebel, Bill Meyer, Tom Masch (with Jeep), Jeff Miedowski, Ed Morrison, Alan Nalbandian, Dan Oberhauser, Carolyn Pogge, John Polasko, Commander Jim Reynolds and Karl Sokol.

Post members participating in placing flags on veterans' graves met at the Falls Diner in the morning for breakfast in preparation. Following the meal, the group headed to St. Denis Cemetery where they were joined by other groups that had volunteered to assist. They included Boy Scouts, the "Independent Belles," a group or Amazon workers, and representatives of Local 38 of the Sheet Medal Workers.

When the work at St. Denis was completed, they all went to the cemetery next to Hopewell Reformed Church. Thankfully, they got the job done before getting soaked by a heavy rainstorm.

Post members contributing were Fred Beck, Drew Bellantone Jim Broughton, Dan Briscoe, John Call, Mark Graser, Len Hart, Bill Kriebel, John Lyons, Bill Meyer, Jeff Miedowski, John Polasko, Jim Reynolds and Karl Sokol.

At 11:00 am, post members met behind Walgreen's in Wappingers Falls before being transported to the parade staging area on North Street. The parade stepped off a 1:00 pm. We were there to represent Dutchess County American Legion.

Parade participants were Lance Ashworth, Don Burns, John Call, Norm Dauerer (with Jeep), Tom Masch (with Jeep), Bill Meyer, Mike Miller, Dan Oberhauser, John Polasko and Commander Jim Reynolds. Ashworth and Call carried the POW/MIA and Legion Flags in the color guard.

Here's Commander Reynolds' video of the parade.

Full Parade Video.

On Tuesday morning, Feb. 18, John Jay High School held an assembly of students, administrators of schools in the southern portion of the district, and several veterans groups (including Post 1758), to commemorate the POW/MIA flag and to distribute flags donated by veterans groups to the principals of the various schools. Air Force veteran and Wappingers Central School District School Board Trustee Virgil Capollari gave a short history of the flag and explained why it's important that the flag be prominently displayed.

In the afternoon, a reprise of the ceremony was held at Roy C. Ketcham High School for schools in the northern portion of the district. Our post was assigned five seats on the stages at both events. Those seats were filled by Commander Jim Reynolds, Bill Meyer, Jeff Miedowski, Bill Kriebel and Lance Ashworth.