07/25/2024
“On behalf of myself, American Legion Post 348, and the Village of New Berlin, New York, I would like to recognize and thank the 1st Bn, Army Reserve Career Group for their participation in our Memorial Day parade and subsequent Honors Ceremony.
In recent years, these annual events have seen a decline in attendance as competing holiday events have reduced the numbers lining the streets to pay tribute to our fallen service-members. The 1st Bn ARCG’s participation helped reverse that trend: Even though the weather was threatening, the number of spirited observers along the parade route was amazing. Perhaps more noteworthy was the number of teenagers and young families who stayed for the American Legion-hosted Honors Ceremony. Residents and visitors have told me that this was the best local Memorial Day event in decades.
Throughout the morning, the crowd was more than patriotic and respectful- they were energized; they were inspired and they were inquisitive. Many stayed after the formal events to visit the military displays/LMTV’s and chat informally with the service members of today.
By representing our military so professionally, the Soldiers of the 1st Bn ARCG have lit the spark of curiosity in many of our local youth. This was a day that will yield the fruit of quality recruits for years to come. I personally have had follow-up discussions with one of the recent high school graduates who is now committed to entering the Army!
As mayor of the Village and as a retired Soldier myself, I hope your Soldiers enjoyed the New Berlin Memorial Day experience: the parade, the ceremony, the food treats and meeting some of the locals(military and entertainment celebrities( to include THE Phantom of Broadway’s Phantom of the Opera) who make this small Village special. We hope you and they will consider being part of future events.
As a show of thanks, I will be writing a personal note to those Soldiers who turned this “day-off” into a positive event for this community and a legacy building event for the Army. They were: MSG Marvin Bueno and SFC Benjamin Tibbitts.
Respectfully,
Peter S. Lennon
Major General (Ret.), US Army
Mayor”
