The City of Rye will carry on its tradition of honoring military personnel who died while in service to their country on Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, 2024, at Rye City Hall, immediately following the Memorial Day parade. American Legion Post 128 Commander Fred de Barros will lead the ceremony. Mayor Josh Cohn, County Executive George Latimer, and NYS Senator Shelley Mayer and NYS Assemblyman Steve Otis will offer welcoming remarks and greetings.
The Rye American Legion Post Auxiliary is organizing the parade down Purchase Street which will feature Legionnaires, marching bands, cyclists, classic cars, Rye’s Boys and Girls Scouts, Rye school groups and local government officials. The parade begins at 9:30am at the train station and ends at City Hall.
Principal Speaker
This year’s principal speaker is Rye resident Patrick Murphy, a US Navy veteran. Raised in South Florida to Irish immigrant parents, Patrick served his country with distinction, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander, flying search and rescue missions throughout the 7th Fleet and Iraq in the MH-60S Knighthawk Helicopter.
After flight school and wings, Patrick’s first duty station was to HSC-25, out of Anderson Air Force base, Guam. From there, the “Island Knights” deployed helicopter detachments all over the world, both shore-based, and on various 7th Fleet ships. While deployed to Iraq in 2009, Patrick served with the 2515th Naval Air Ambulance Detachment as a “Dustoff” MEDEVAC pilot, based out of Coalition Operating Base Basra.
Following his first fleet tour, Patrick served as an instructor pilot with HSC-2, the “Fleet Angels” located at Naval Station Norfolk. Various staff assignments followed, to include working in the Central Air Operations Center (CAOC) at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.
After ten years of service to the Navy, Patrick transitioned to civilian life and settled in Rye four years ago with his wife, Christina, and their two children: Maura (5, Osborne) and William (3, RPNS). Today, Murphy is the CEO of Trident Construction, a New York City-based superstructure trade subcontractor. Outside of work, Patrick is active volunteer pilot for organizations such as Patient Airlift Services, Angel Flight Northeast, and Veterans Airlift Command.
Other Memorial Day Speakers & Activities
Legionnaire Terry McCartney will read the Roll of Honor. Legionnaire Tim Moynihan will read the “Oldham Letter”. Fr. Daniel O’Reilly, of St Philip Neri Church, formerly of Resurrection Church will lead the Invocation.
The John M. Kingery Memorial Day Essay Contest Award will be presented to the Rye High School student who submitted the winning essay on “What Memorial Day Means to Me.” The ceremony will include the traditional recitation of the Gettysburg Address by a student from Resurrection School. The program will also include recognition of Rye Girl Scouts and Eagle Scouts who will receive the American Legion Good Citizen Citation: Ferdinand Coughlin, Matthew Pellegrini and Logan Jancski.
Robin Latimer, president of the Rye American Legion Auxiliary will sing patriotic songs. Michael Talbot of Rye High School will play Taps. And the Christ’s Church Choir ensemble will sing.
