Veterans Hold Candlelight Vigil

Residents including local veterans gathered in Pearl River's Braunsdorf Park to light candles in memory of those who have fallen in service of their country Sunday.

"We light candles and we stand the honor guard for those people who are represented here," said VFW Post 7370 Commander Tom Markham. "We also place the poppies (a Memorial Day tradition) to honor not only those killed in action, but also those who are missing in action. It is up to all of us to to light the fires for those missing and assumed killed in action."

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Pastor John Havrilla offered prayers and spoke of the park as sacred ground because they were honoring the sacrifice of others.

Boy Scout Troop 36 and Girl Scout Troop 40791 were also in attendance. A member of the latter, Caitlin Crilley, read the poem In Flandres Fields, written by Canadian physician and Lt. Colonel John McCrae during World War I. Flanders Field is a permanent American World War I cemetary in Waregem, Belgium.

Evan Fleisher played Taps as the flag was lowered to half mast.

In addition to the lighting of the candles, local veterans and residents are taking part in a 24-hour vigil over the crosses in Braunsdorf Park that began earlier Sunday.

"We realize it is not a right to stand here, but an obligation," Markham said. "Remember the real reason for this holiday weekend – to honor those who have gone before us and the sacrifices they have made."