Lake George Memorial Day address acknowledges a debt that can never be repaid

The Lake George American Legion held its annual Memorial Day parade and service on Saturday, May 25. The Parade stepped off from West Brook Road and traveled along Beach Road and Canada Street ending at Shepard Park.

The American Legion Color Guard led the parade, which included the Lake George Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary, representatives of the Adirondack Peer-to-Peer Veterans Program, the Lake George Community Band, North Queensbury and Bay Ridge Fire Departments, Lake George EMS and the Lake George Steamboat Company calliope.

Following the parade, Lake George American Legion Post administrator Angela Vernum opened the ceremony at the Veterans Memorial in Shepard Park. Commander Paul Sears of the North Creek American Legion Post 629 gave the keynote address.

When preparing today’s address, Sears says he could only think of one word — debt. “I have a debt to pay, and I’m not sure if I’ll ever get it to a zero balance but I’m going to try. Our brothers and sisters who die in uniforms raise their hands and take an oath to defend the Constitution of the United States. They pay our debt forward every time they do that… Some of those also had to make the ultimate sacrifice.”

Sears listed the grim cost of protecting the nation: “World Wars I and II cost the United States 521,915 lives, Korea, 36,574, Vietnam, 58,220. The Gulf War took 382 of them away from us, and the Global War on Terrorism has taken 6,639. Today we set aside a special part of our lives to stop and remember those who have given of themselves for us… We all have a debt to pay, and it will never be paid off.”

A man in an American Legion uniform speaks at a podium. — *Commander Paul Sears of the North Creek American Legion Post 629 addresses the crowd at the Lake George Memorial Day service.*

Memorial Day, Sears noted, was originally called Decoration Day, a day to decorate graves. He says that this past week children from two schools helped him place more than 650 flags on graves throughout the community. “We still set today aside to remember and say, ‘thank you for your service’ as you place a flag on a headstone. However, for those that can no longer hear us, I feel that the whisper of the wind will take those words to them.”

“Memorial Day is all about teaching our young so the tradition is always continued, that Memorial Day isn’t about the barbecues and the parties and things. It’s about what was given to allow us to be here. These men and women served in a uniform, and they never got out of that uniform. So, the one thing the American Legion asks is that you teach your children, you teach your grandchildren, what it’s all about to be at the cemetery to place your flags — to remember those that had fallen and what the American flag stands for, how to honor it when it passes you by.”
— Angela Vernum

Ted Beaudet of the Lake George American Legion called on those in attendance to renew their commitment to Country saying, “We honor the memory of those who gave their lives in the service of our country and of those others who have dropped their burdens by the wayside of life and have gone to their eternal rest. May the ceremonies of today deepen our reverence for our departed friends and comrades. Let us renew our pledge of loyalty to our country and its flag. Let us resolve, by word and deed, to emphasize the privilege and duty of patriotism. Comrades, on this Memorial Day, let us pledge ourselves anew to patriotic service… Let us grasp with fearless hand the flag so noble borne before and, like those others, plant it always on the battlements of righteousness.”

A wreath-laying ceremony and three-gun salute followed. The service concluded with “Taps” played by a Lake George Junior High trumpeter, the Lake George Junior High Band, led by Band Director Amy Baker, performing the “Star Spangled Banner,” and the Lake George Junior High Chorus singing “America” accompanied by Choral Director John Alecci on acoustic guitar.

The American Legion will hold its annual POW/MIA ceremony on top of Prospect Mountain on Sunday, June 2, at 1 p.m. The State waives the entrance fee to the Veterans Memorial Parkway for the ceremony. The New York Patriot Guard Riders will stand the flag line, and the ceremony will include performances by the Johnsburg and Warrensburg School bands. A reception will follow at the Lake George American Legion Post, 3932 Route 9L, Lake George. The public is welcome.