An enduring and endless thanks for the lives given

CATSKILL―Memorial Day parades and ceremonies were held across the country on Monday to honor the lives of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.

In Greene County, solemn observances brought out veterans, community groups, first responders, elected officials and residents of all ages.  

“During my time in the United States Marines, I was lucky enough to not lose anyone I had become very close with,” said Undersheriff Tracey Quinn, who served as guest speaker for the ceremony on the Greene County Courthouse steps following Catskill’s parade.

“I am sure that is not the case for many of you, as nearly 1.3 million military members have died since the American Revolution,” she noted.

Quinn spoke in length of the loss of dear friend Army Specialist Anthony Mangano, a former Cairo Police officer.

“Tony had reenlisted in the Army National Guard in 2007 at the age of 35,” she said. “On June 21, 2008, while on patrol in Kandahar, Afghanistan, his vehicle encountered an improvised explosive device and small arms fire.”

Mangano and three of his comrades died from injuries sustained in the attack.

“Tony was larger than life. He had a booming voice with a heavy Long Island accent and his confidence was unmatched. The kind of guy that took up all the air in a room. That sort of presence in this world cannot just be snuffed out in an instant. It was just unthinkable to me. But I was wrong. He was in fact gone,” Quinn said.

“Taken, like so many others, in the pursuit of guaranteeing safety and freedom for all of us in this country,” she added.

“It is heartbreaking that he never got to make a family, leave a legacy, or set foot back on our blessed soil, but if he had a choice on how he would leave this world, going out gloriously in battle would have been what he picked anyway. He had a heart of service, a need to protect others, and his selflessness was unending,” Quinn said.

But Memorial Day is not just about honoring those who died courageously in battle, she continued.

“We would be remiss if we failed to remember those brave and resilient souls that endured years of medical issues due to exposure during their service, those that left for battle and came back home physically or mentally different people, maybe even missing arms or legs but still having to assimilate back into normal life,” Quinn said.

“Those that struggled with pain from injuries sustained that tried to numb themselves with medication and ultimately lost their lives to drug overdose.  The men and women who thought they could handle things that they had seen or had to do in their military roles but sadly couldn’t cope with it, so in the end, they took their own lives,” she said.

The history of Memorial Day dates back to the Civil War that left an estimated 698,000 soldiers dead. Originally called Decoration Day, the observance was a time for the nation to decorate the graves of fallen Civil War soldiers with flowers, wreaths, and flags.

Following World War I, the day grew to honor and remember all American military personnel who died in any war. In 1971, it became a recognized federal holiday, observed on the last Monday in May.

In Greene County, parades and ceremonies took place in Greenville, Coxsackie, Catskill, Prattsville and Cairo, while services were held in Durham and Tannersville.

“Though today is often seen as the kickoff to summer, the time to clean up the grill and plant the flowers, I hope we all keep the real meaning of today close to our hearts and remind all of those around us of what Memorial Day truly represents,” said Quinn.

“It is enduring and endless thanks for the lives given in order to sustain the freedoms so many take for granted,” she said. “Let those who paid the ultimate price with their precious lives never be forgotten.”