East Hampton Memorial Day observances, including the annual parade, rifle squad ceremonies at cemeteries, and a tribute to the lost at sea at Main Beach, will be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, John Geehreng, the commander of East Hampton's Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 550, announced last week.
In a letter to the post's members, Mr. Geehreng said he had made the decision to cancel out of an abundance of caution, and in consultation with the East Hampton American Legion. "The majority of our membership is in the high-risk, most-vulnerable age group regarding the virus," he said. "We will not put you at risk."
"In these very trying times, when we’re all experiencing dramatic changes in the ways we live our lives due to Covid-19, I sincerely hope this communication finds each of you safe and in good health," Mr. Geehreng added. "Nothing is more important. Nothing."