The members of Yorktown American Legion Post 1009 expected the recent cancellation of Yorktown’s annual Memorial Day Parade due to NY’s PAUSE restrictions. Members of the post were already discussing other options than the traditional parade to honor all the veterans who have given their lives in America’s wars and conflicts. A ‘reverse’ parade was planned, where the public could tour Yorktown’s veterans and war monuments across town in their cars. They would follow, or print, directions from the Yorktown post’s website to follow a path to all the monuments. Concerns about having too many people escaping home confinement to take part in the ‘reverse parade’ on Memorial Day raised concerns of unintended ‘social distancing’ problems and put a stop to that idea. Post Adjutant Patrick McDonough suggested that a recorded ‘virtual’ Memorial Day Parade of the town’s monuments and memorials could be uploaded to YouTube. Everyone could safely stay at home while learning about, and remembering, the town’s veterans who have served and died in America’s wars. Yorktown’s town supervisor, Matt Slater, a member of the post’s Sons of the American Legion squadron, supported the idea fully with several Town Board members. On Sunday morning 28 members of the post met in their post’s parking lot, all wearing masks and following social distancing measures, to film a final scene for the video. The entire group calls out – “See you next year!”, a hope that everything, including parades, will be back to normal next year.
The Virtual Yorktown Memorial Day Parade can be viewed on YouTube.