Memorial Day 2021 at Home

New York City ~ Soldiers and Sailors Monument

Maggie Malone and Betsy Harris represented the AWON family.

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument ~ 89th Street and Riverside Drive ~ in Riverside Park, New York City.

The monument, cornerstone laid in 1899 by Governor Theodore Roosevelt and dedicated in May of 1902, was originally designed and built as a monument to the soldiers and sailors from New York State who had served in the Union Army during the Civil War. A New York City Landmark, the monument has become a shrine for all those who have served in later wars as well.

With the single representative Memorial Day Wreath 2021.

There are usually as many as 20 wreaths presented at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument on Memorial Day, but this year, there was only one. Last year there was no program, this year only a short one: The Star Spangled Banner was sung, Taps was played. Around 25 VIP organizers and regular New Yorkers attended.

Betsy Harris and I were there representing AWON. The 2019, pre-Covid program included four AWONers speaking: Betsy and I and August Alegi and Robert Loving, Jr. The Chairman of the Memorial Day program resisted having us speak. We would be taking time from the usual Military and political speeches. We would not convey the usual upbeat messages. There are still those who who disrespect the children of the fallen. This was true when we were young and it is true today. But two board members spoke up for us. One, retired General Thomas Principe, is pictured with Betsy and me above.

Lucille Posner, WWII wave and born storyteller. Betsy and I took her to lunch.

Photos and text are thanks to longtime AWONer, Maggie Malone.

The Soldiers and Sailors Monument is maintained by the Riverside Park Conservancy.