Memorail Day has and always should be a day when we all take a moment to honor and reflect upon the men and women of the armed forces who have made the supreme sacrifice in times of war to protect our freedom. They perished in service to their country and for each and every man, woman, and child who calls the United States home.
Memorial Day, originated in a ceremony called Decoration Day in 1868 was originally observed as a memorial by the northern states to the Union soldiers who died in the Civil War. Memorial Day became a federal holiday in 1971 and has been an annual tribute to those who have given their lives in service to their country. May 30th was initially designated as Memorial Day but an Act of Congress moved Memorial Day to the last Monday in May.
Local towns and villages within the Town of Oyster Bay will pay homage to America's fallen veterans, survivors and servicemen and women over Memorial Day weekend, May 23rd-25th, with parades, concerts and memorial services.
EAST NORWICH PARADE
The East Norwich Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9 AM on May 25th and travel down Route 106 from Walnut Avenue to the East Norwich firehouse, 900 Oyster Bay Road. A ceremony at the firehouse will follow the parade.
OYSTER BAY PARADE
Oyster Bay's American Legion Quentin Roosevelt Post No. 4 will hold its 90th annual Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 25th beginning at 10:30 AM following the East Norwich parade. The parade will assemble at 10 AM on South Street, Adams Street and Burtis Avenue. East Norwich resident, Captain Stephen T. Treacy, USN, will serve as the Grand Marshal of the Oyster Bay Memorial Day parade.
There will be three parade divisions. The First Division consists of the Quentin Roosevelt Post No. 4, the Veterans of Foreign Wars - Oyster Bay Memorial Post No. 8033, the Oyster Bay High School band, the Oyster Bay Lions Club, the Matinecock Masonic Lodge, Doubleday Babcock Senior Center members, the Knights of Columbus, the Catholic Daughters, the Italian-American Citizens Club and the Theodore Roosevelt Sanctuary. There will be military vehicles and classic cars to help transport veterans who are unable to march.
The Second Division includes Boy Scout Troop 299 and 253, the James H. Vernon Intermediate School band, Cub Scouts, Girls Scouts and local sports teams. 
The Third Division is made up of the Atlantic Steamer Fire Company, the Oyster Bay Fire Company No. 1 and the East Norwich Fire Company.
On this Memorial Day, and every day, may each and every one of these men know that we are all eternally grateful for their supreme sacrifice.
Copyright © 2009. By Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady". All rights reserved.. *MEMORIAL DAY - DAY OF REMEMBRANCE*
If you are selling or buying a home in Brookville, Muttontown, Oyster Bay, East Norwich, Oyster Bay Cove, Syosset, Laurel Hollow, Bayville, Centre Island and Mill Neck, please contact Rosalinda Morgan, "The Rose Lady".
Ph - 516-385-0584
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Rosalinda,
Very nice post of remembrance and of your local parade - I feel like I'm there. :)
Steve
Steve - Thanks and enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!
This have told a wonderful story here and given us a good reminder about Memorial Day. I didn't realize that it was only established as a holiday in 1971. I like the idea of a parade, because everyone can participate. Our town has a breakfast with the mayor. $20 a plate, which goes to the Memorial Fund. Thank you, Rosalinds, for helping us to pause and remember the significance of Memorial Day.
Mara - I love parade. The parade route is half a block from my house so we walk to the corner and meet all the neighbors. I believe that is the only place where all the neighbors converge at the same time.
A small clarification to your post:
Memorial Day was a federal holiday prior to 1971, but, as you noted, was celebrated on May 30. As is still the case with "federal holidays," not everyone celebrates them, but the federal government, post office, and banks usually do.
The name "Memorial Day" was declared the official name in 1967 through a federal law, and in 1968, the Uniform Holidays Bill moved some holidays to Mondays so people could have three-day weekends. The change did not apply to Memorial Day at the federal level until 1971.
Confusion reigns because people think that 1971 was the first federal Memorial Day. It wasn't. It was only the first federal Memorial Day celebrated on the last Monday of May instead of the traditional May 30.
Jim,
I don't believe 1971 was the first federal Memorial Day celebrated on the last Monday of May. I got married on Saturday, May 29, 1970 and we chose that day to get an extra free day on Monday.