Millbrook honors fallen heroes, despite pandemic

Millbrook honors fallen heroes, despite pandemic
From left, Air Force 105 Air Wing Division Former Tech Jeff Moseman; Naval Reserve  member Marc Boissey, who serves in a mobile combat unit known as the Seabees; Jonathan Ialongo, an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan; and Washington town Supervisor Gary Ciferri, also a Vietnam veteran.
Photo by Judith O’Hara Balfe

MILLBROOK — On a day over-cast and cool,  a small group of people gathered at the Village Green to pay tribute to those who gave their lives in the line of duty. Around noon, cars followed the five Millbrook firetrucks, beeping their horns as they passed. It was not like other Memorial Day celebrations, COVID-19 had changed that, with Governor Andrew Cuomo barring gatherings of more than 10. 

The flag flew at half-mast; there was no large crowd. In a short address, Washington town Supervisor Gary Ciferri mentioned the victims of the pandemic as well as those of veterans lost. 

“This is normally a pretty big deal, but the main thought of Memorial Day remains and doesn’t diminish the service of those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” he said before the service. “As a combat vet [of Vietnam] who came back unscathed, this is a special time to remember those who didn’t. We can’t forget those behind the occasion.”

Mark Boissey, who is in the U.S. Naval Reserves and is currently seeking a commission as an officer in the Navy, related that he was away last year, and missed the Millbrook tributes. 

“Memorial Day is so important, especially to those who have served,” he said. “It was heartbreaking to think that it wouldn’t be observed. In spite of the pandemic, we wanted some observance of the day.” 

He discussed it with close friend Jonathan Ialongo, an eight-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, and together they reached out to the community.

“This will be different, much smaller, and we want to maintain the social distancing and all, but we still need to honor and do whatever we can to pay tribute to those who sacrificed so much for us,” Ialongo agreed.

Latest News

North East Planning Board suggests clearer language in proposed zoning plan

North East Town Hall in Millerton, where officials continue to discuss updates to the town’s zoning code.

By Nathan Miller

MILLERTON Planning Board members raised a mix of broad and detailed concerns about the Town of North East’s proposed zoning plan during a special meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 3 — their final discussion before the public hearing set for Jan. 8.

The 181-page draft plan represents a rewrite of the town’s decades-old zoning code, updating definitions, commercial use rules, and standards for parking, lighting and design. Town officials say the overhaul is meant to eliminate inconsistencies and give applicants and reviewers a clearer, more functional set of rules.

Keep ReadingShow less
Classifieds - December 4, 2025

Help Wanted

CARE GIVER NEEDED: Part Time. Sharon. 407-620-7777.

SNOW PLOWER NEEDED: Sharon Mountain. 407-620-7777.

Keep ReadingShow less
Legal Notices - December 4, 2025

Legal Notice

Notice of Formation of Studio Yarnell LLC

Keep ReadingShow less
‘Les Flashs d’Anne’: friendship, fire and photographs
‘Les Flashs d’Anne’: friendship, fire and photographs
‘Les Flashs d’Anne’: friendship, fire and photographs

Anne Day is a photographer who lives in Salisbury. In November 2025, a small book titled “Les Flashs d’Anne: Friendship Among the Ashes with Hervé Guibert,” written by Day and edited by Jordan Weitzman, was published by Magic Hour Press.

The book features photographs salvaged from the fire that destroyed her home in 2013. A chronicle of loss, this collection of stories and charred images quietly reveals the story of her close friendship with Hervé Guibert (1955-1991), the French journalist, writer and photographer, and the adventures they shared on assignments for French daily newspaper Le Monde. The book’s title refers to an epoymous article Guibert wrote about Day.

Keep ReadingShow less