Memorial Day Parade back to traditional route




A special Garden City parade route and ceremony marking 100 years since the founding of the Camp Mills military base on Long Island during World War I will be postponed for the next six months. Despite prior plans for a new east Garden City route and venue, Memorial Day – Monday May 29, 2017 — in the village will be observed in traditional fashion, with an action proposed for the Board of Trustees to amend the parade route.

Commander Christopher Blume of Garden City’s American Legion William Bradford Turner Post #265 spoke with The Garden City News about changing back to the traditional Garden City parade route, one most familiar with residents as the Easter Sunday Vintage Car Parade occurred a few weeks ago. He cites the lack of walkability of the recently approved Memorial Day route heading east down Stewart Avenue, ending at the Rainbow Division Memorial off of Clinton Road and Commercial Avenue, as a daunting task for many older veterans and their families.

“Ultimately after going back and talking to American Legion members we’ve decided not to alter the Memorial Day parade and stick with the original, normal route of starting on Eleventh Street, turning south on Franklin Avenue, and turning right on Stewart Avenue and ending at the Village Gazebo. My members are older and that (Clinton/Commercial) area would be very difficult for them to get around – just the fact that the parade would have terminated at the firehouse (Station 1) and everybody would have to cross the railroad tracks to get to the Rainbow Memorial would be a difficult walk,” Blume told the News in a mid-April interview.

Traffic on and around the Clinton Road area on Memorial Day was considered to be another obstacle as if the new route went forward, the parade would have blocked all the other cross streets in that stretch, going from Hempstead up to Old Country Road. Blume says he never has a doubt that the Garden City Police Department would do a phenomenal job in keeping all participants and car traffic safe, but the American Legion members became uncomfortable with that route.

“People are also so used to having the Memorial Day parade go down its usual route, with a change there was some thought of whether or not enough of a crowd would actually show up because residents could have been confused,” Blume said.

A larger commemoration of the centennial of the U.S.’ entry into World War I was originally planned together with this Memorial Day, but Blume says those plans move to Veterans’ Day and possibly a special museum exhibit in Garden City.

In 1917 Camp Albert L. Mills (Camp Mills) on the Hempstead Plains was founded in Garden City. Troops from all across America arrived here, and they were prepared for their tours in World War I in Garden City before being deployed primarily to France and England until late 1918. Armed Forces veteran and former village historian Cyril Smith had been at work for Memorial Day’s events, contacting the Garden City High School band to perform World War I era music during this year’s Memorial Day event. He’s now shifting focus to considerations for November and Veteran’s Day.

Smith was informed of the reversecourse by Blume a couple weeks ago, following the April 3 approval of the Memorial Day parade and route by the Village Board of Trustees. Days later Blume wrote a letter addressed to the Board, on behalf of the American Legion Post 265, requesting the change back to the original parade route instead of the new configuration. His letter reached Village Hall well ahead of the board’s April 20 meeting, but the item was not on their action agenda that evening.

Smith says he and current Village Historian William Bellmer are starting on plans for the November 11 Veterans’ Day parade, and Blume confirms that the American Legion will work with Smith on a ceremony at the Rainbow Division Memorial for November instead. Community involvement and special volunteer efforts will be sought for the fall endeavor, with students a particular interest as Smith says this centennial year will give the Village of Garden City a great chance for an important lesson in local history.

“At this particular stage Memorial Day will go in its traditional route, but the World War I Centennial will be planned to commemorate the military presence, the Rainbow Division and Camp Mills. Hopefully the American Legion can make mention of our future planning and the local aspects on Memorial Day,” Smith told the News in a phone interview.

Blume adds that the point of recognizing the centennial will be made, but for Memorial Day so much goes on leading up to the day’s final ceremony, as the process is a mass collaboration.

The American Legion hosted its annual “Law and Order Night” on Wednesday, April 19. Honorees this year were Officer Christopher J. Reynolds, a 10-year veteran of the Garden City Police Department, and Lieutenant James Taunton of the Garden City Fire Department as well as a member of Mineola’s Volunteer Ambulance Corps. Taunton joined Garden City’s Fire Department five years ago, in April of 2012. He served as department secretary in 2014 and was honored as firefighter of the year in 2015. Fire Chief Thomas Gallo announced on April 19 that Lieutenant Taunton would be sworn in as a Garden City Fire Truck Company Captain the very next day.

“I have been working with James for many years and he’s been very dedicated to our department, he always stands up and does what is needed for Garden City Fire and the ladder company,” Gallo said at the Legion’s event.

The American Legion’s April 19 event also featured a special award from the American Legion to the entire Garden City Special Police, marking their 65th anniversary. Commander Blume spoke at the event and then took to social media with the following message from his Post comrades: “Law and Order Night is one of our best nights. Recognizing the outstanding service by our local first responders to our community. We salute you and thank you for your service!”

To contact William Bradford Turner American Legion Post #265 send correspondence to the organization at P.O. Box 8, Garden City, New York 11530.



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