New Rochelle held its annual Memorial Day Waterside Ceremony on May 29, 2026, at Hudson Park, followed by an indoor ceremony at American Legion Post 8 due to rain. The event honored fallen service members, featured speeches from city officials, veterans, and a special presentation on women's military history.
Good morning everyone. Welcome to the annual Memorial Day Waterside Ceremony. For those of you who do not know me, my name is Kalanji Samuel. I served as a captain in the United States Army, and I am deeply humbled and honored to stand before you today as the newly appointed chair of the New Rochelle's Veterans Advisory Committee. As we gather this memorial day, we pause to remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to this nation and the freedoms we hold dear. So as our committee enters a new era of advisory service, our solemn mandate is to ensure that the city of New Rochelle actively honors, supports, and advocates for every single veteran and active duty member who calls this community home. But this morning is not about new committees. This is about a permanent unbroken chain of remembrance. And maintaining that chain requires honoring the best traditions and the leaders who have kept the flame alive for years. That is why it is my distinct pleasure and privilege to introduce the fellow veteran who embodies that continuity. Most of you know him well. He is a leader who has already provided invaluable wisdom, advice, and structural grounding to our newly reorganized committee. Please join me in welcoming your master of ceremonies for this morning's service. New Rochelle Fire Chief and Commissioner Andy Sandor. Thank you, Klan Jay. Good morning. Thank you, everyone, for joining us on this wet morning. It's not too bad. Some of us made the uh to Beechwood Cemetery yesterday. It was raining a lot worse, and we had a good showing there, and it's good to see a good showing here at Hudson Park to memorialize uh all the veterans lost at sea. And uh we appreciate you coming down. Okay, at this time uh we have our color guards and uh we'll tell them to go ahead and post the colors. I'm gonna call firefighter Raphael Gibbs to come forward and to lead us in the national anthem. Hey, salute! Oh say can you see by the donzer? What's so proudly we'll at the twilight's last glimmer whose broad stripes and bright stones through the fight or the rapport we want with so gently streaming and the kids the bombs basting through the flag was in good way the rain of the free and the home of ready help done thank you firefighter gibbs for that outstanding rendition, very moving. Thank you. At this time, uh please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance Hollers. Hey, it's salute. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands. One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Heady. What do we bow our heads? Jesus reminds us in John 15 13. It says, Greater love has no man than this. That a man lay down his life for his friend. It's God the Father. God the Son, God the Holy Spirit. Thank you for this day. Thank you for blessing us. You said in all thy ways, we should acknowledge you. So we're grateful for this day that thou has given us. We pray now on this somber day as we come together to recognize those that are falling, fallen in the sea and the air and on land. And dear God, that you would strengthen and bless first of all the families of the lost ones. Then those that are even not have been found at this point. And Lord God, we stand even for them as the unknown soldier. But dear God, as we stand here today, we pray that you would watch over us. Bless us and grant to our hearts a feeling of comfort, knowing that you promised that you would never leave us nor forsake us. So in this day of remembrance, as we come together, we pray now that you would strengthen and bless us and strengthen the family.