Rain may have cancelled the annual Memorial Day parade on Monday, but the town’s observance of the holiday and its tribute to members of the armed forces who gave their lives for their country moved forward as always.  Instead of a tribute from Veteran’s Park on Fifth Avenue, the celebration took place in the Daronco Townhouse.  Speakers included Phil Kiamie of Pelham’s American Legion Post 50, state representative Amy Paulin, Grand Marshal Dan McLaughlin, Town Councilwoman Kara McLoughlin and keynote speaker Art Scinta, Pelham’s town historian.

Scinta based his talk on a scrapbook from the Pelham archives, which is full of newspaper clippings reporting the loss of Pelham Soldiers in World War II. He reminded attendees that no matter how divided people may become, we must come together to create a better future.

The Scouts of Pelham led the Pledge of Allegiance, and Pelham Memorial High School band members provided renditions of “America the Beautiful,” “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and “Amazing Grace.” The Pelham Larks also invited the community to join them in singing “God Bless America.”

The emotional highlights of the ceremony came when Michael Bohn read the John McCrae poem, “In Flanders Fields,” and Sergeant Isabel Jaime of the 78th Army Band played “Taps.”

As a special celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Pelham Middle School social studies teacher David Acocella organized Glover’s Brigade of Revolutionary War Reenactors, which brought together middle and high school students to honor the local “Battle of Pell’s Point.”