During the Civil War, many soldiers died in battles fought on enemy territory and were buried far from their homes and families. In time, their neglected graves fell to the ravages of nature. It was this sad and disturbing sight that moved widows of Confederate soldiers in Mississippi to place flowers on the graves of their husbands' former enemies. Their compassionate act helped to lay the foundation for Memorial Day.

Long before Ms. Galante was the mayor of the Village of Roslyn, the veterans, the firemen, the schools, the villages of the greater Roslyn area, representatives of the military and many others participated with pride in the Memorial Day Parade. Although the route of this parade has always been through the Village of Roslyn culminating at the memorials at the Roslyn Duck Pond, the parade was never the exclusive property of the Village of Roslyn or of the mayor of the Village. The parade has always been organized and run by the local veterans organizations with the gracious assistance of the previous mayors and trustees of the Village of Roslyn and the officials of the Town of North Hempstead.

Memorial Day serves as a reminder to citizens across the country of the ideals upon which this country is based. On this day, all Americans, regardless of race, creed or ideology, remember those who sacrificed their lives to strengthen and preserve the invaluable gift of freedom.

As the commander of the Roslyn American Legion, I, too, have feelings of sadness and concern over this upsetting situation, but Mayor Galante can rest assured that there will be no casualties as the result of this debacle that she has caused. I have been assured by most of those who regularly march that there will be a Memorial Day Parade and, as they have for many years, the citizens of the Roslyn community can watch proudly as their firemen, representatives of their local veterans organizations, their local school districts, their local churches, representatives of the military and many others march proudly in remembrance of those who have died in the service of this country.

James P. Croce, Jr., MD

Commander, Roslyn American Legion

James A. Lyons Post