NEW PALTZ – Grade six students at New Paltz Middle School (NPMS) took part in a Memorial Day Ceremony on May 20 to honor those who died fighting to protect our country. The event’s keynote speaker was SPC Gretchen Wagner of the Army National Guard, a 2001 New Paltz High School graduate, who spoke of the importance of honoring our troops.
“On Memorial Day, we recognize and honor the fallen heroes who died in service to our nation,” Wagner said to those in attendance. “With heavy hearts and a sense of profound gratitude, we mourn these men and women—parents, children, loved ones, comrades-in-arms, friends, and all those known and unknown—who believed so deeply in what our country could be they were willing to give their lives to protect its promise.”
Grade 6 students Mackenzie Bailin, Molly Saunders, and Annika Walsh also spoke about the sacrifices made by their family members who have served or who are currently serving. Girl Scouts Sandra Rodriguez and Erin O’Donnell laid a wreath while the NPMS Band and Chorus provided a patriotic soundtrack as local dignitaries and members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars looked on.
“Retired Band Director Charlie Seymour started this ceremony about 20 years ago as a way for our younger students to learn about the sacrifices so many have made for our country,” said NPMS Band teacher Sonja Nosovsky, who prepared the Grade 6 Band to play the “Star-Spangled Banner” from memory. NPMS General Music and Chorus teacher William Halpern coordinated this year’s ceremony.
“I think things went incredibly smoothly,” he said. “Gretchen delivered her speech at a fantastic level for our students, the student speakers were proud of their family members who have served, and attendees included Veterans of Foreign Wars, the supervisor, and trustees of the board of the New Paltz Rural Cemetery.”
Wagner, whose nephew Daniel is a sixth grader and was in attendance, also has two sons in the District, Tyler in Grade 7 and Jackson in Grade 4.
“New Paltz is a great place to grow up, and it is events like this that show what we are all about,” she said.
![](https://hudsonvalleypress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Walden_Savings_Bank1.gif")
![](https://hudsonvalleypress.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/FDR-Web.jpg")
