Sloatsburg Mayor Carl Wright was careful to be as accurate as possible — Memorial Day celebrations have been going on in Sloatsburg in some shape or form since World War I. He wasn’t certain exactly when they started. But whether it was the community gathering at the old Fire Hall or later at the American Legion Hall, or now at the Sloatsburg Community Fields, the village has always honored its veterans.

Memorial Day has been with us since after the Civil War, when Decoration Day was established to commemorate fallen Union Soldiers. Held at different times in different places, citizens and communities decorated graves in memory of loved ones. Now Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and woman who died while serving in the military.

“This is what’s best about America,” said Wright. “Small town USA, where community, family, friends and neighbors come together to reflect and remember. And in this case, to pay tribute to those men and women who made a sacrifice on behalf of our nation.”

Wright reflected fondly about a Memorial Day tradition popular during his youth — the tapping of the birch beer barrel, which has a similar taste to root beer but is made from fermented birch tree sap.

Sloatsburg’s Memorial Day ceremony takes place this coming Monday when friends, family and guests gather at Municipal Plaza where the day’s festivities begin. There will be three stops along the way that will include a laying of the wreath with rifle salutes. The procession begins at Veterans Park at Village Hall where Sloatsburg’s WWII monument stands, inscribed with those from the village who served. The park also includes a memorial to veterans from Vietnam and other foreign lands where American soldiers have died.

The parade route will move down Rt. 17 to the Sloatsburg Public Library and the WWI monument. The parade will include Sloatsburg Fire Deparment trucks, the Sloatsburg Ambulance Corps, the Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts, members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and the Suffern Marching Band, which travels during the course of the day through Hillburn, Sloatsburg and Suffern.

“It’s great for the kids,” said Wright. “It’s great for the band to participate in such a wonderful event.”

The parade will then wind around to the Sloatsburg Cemetery, which is dedicated in memory of the veterans. After the ceremony and laying of the wreath at the cemetery, the procession will cross the street to the Community Fields where hot dogs and refreshments will be served.

Sloatsburg’s Annual Memorial Day Parade and Festivities takes place Monday, May 28 beginning at 10 a.m. at Veterans Park at Village Hall. Special parade guest Ramapo Central School Superintendent Dr. Douglas Adams will be present.