It was a blustery November day, the sun ducked in and out of the clouds, but that didn’t damper the spirit and reverence of the crowd that gathered to pay tribute to and honor America’s veterans.

     The annual parade stepped off from the Goodwill Hook and Ladder fire house on Church St. Ext. and walked the short distance down Forester Ave. to Veteran’s Memorial Park. The parade included a military color guard, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, municipal officials and members of Warwick’s American Legion and Veterans of Foreign War posts.

     Patrick and Anita Colman were there, as they are at all events such as these, holding an “Honor and Remember” flag, which was created “to serve a national symbol that specifically acknowledges the sacrifice of men and women in the United States Armed Forces who have given their lives for their country in over two centuries of American history.”

     As the parade passed, Patrick, who emigrated to this country 54 years ago from Ireland, was heard calling out “hello lads!” and “God Bless America!” to the veterans who were marching along Forester Ave. With a wave and a smile he stated, “I love this country; thank God for this country.”

       To read the full story, written by Katie Bisaro, pick up a copy of the Nov. 16 issue of the Warwick Valley Dispatch which is available on newsstands at the following locations: Florida – Quick Chek, Kwik Mart, Florida Bakery & Deli, Michael’s Wall of Discounts; Greenwood Lake – Kwik Mart, Cumberland Farms; and Warwick – Edenville Deli, CJ’s Country Market, Quaker Creek Store, Akin’s Pharmacy, Henry’s Deli, Kwik Mart, Larry’s Deli, Price Chopper, ShopRite, and Sunoco.

     To subscribe to the Dispatch send an email to editor@wvdispatch.com or call (845) 986-2216. Yearly cost is $27 for Orange County residents; $30 for residents outside of Orange County; and $20 for students/military.

Tiger Scouts from Den 2 of Pack 117 in Warwick raise a salute at the end of the Veterans Day ceremonies at Veteran’s Memorial Park. Pictured (from left) are: Timothy Brown, Matthew Peacock, Shaun Kunisch, & Steven Weinberg. Photo credit: Warwick Valley Dispatch/Katie Bisaro

Warwick Girl Scouts participated in the annual Veterans Day parade on Fri., Nov. 11. Photo credit: Warwick Valley Dispatch/Katie Bisaro

The Warwick Veterans Monument stands at the entrance to Veteran’s Memorial Park & was the site of the Nov. 11 Veterans Day ceremony in Warwick. Photo credit: Warwick Valley Dispatch/Katie Bisaro

Patrick & Anita Colman proudly hold the ‘Honor & Remember’ flag as they watched the Warwick Veterans Day parade. Photo credit: Warwick Valley Dispatch/Katie Bisaro