JWV notes Jewish lives lost defending this country on May 25, 26

Fred Altman, commander, Albany Post 105, is shown here placing flags on the grave of Jewish veterans during a previous Memorial Day.

Memorial Day, which honors all who died in service to the United States, this year on Monday, May 26, will be noted by local Jewish War Veterans (JWV) chapters with programs open to the community.

A memorial service has been arranged for Sunday, May 25, at the Albany Jewish Community Center, 340 Whitehall Rd., Albany at 9 a.m. Kaddish will be said to remember the sacrifice of those Jews who died defending this democracy. Following the service, U.S. flags will be placed at Albany area cemeteries by volunteers from Temple Israel and Temple Beth Emeth in Albany and by the JWV.

The JWV will also be present at the City of Albany Memorial Day parade displaying the flag of the JWV.
The parade on Monday, May 26, will begin at 9 a.m. at Central and Lexington Avenues. It will end at Lafayette Park with a ceremony.

“We ask that you pause on Memorial Day, May 26, to join for a national moment of silence at 3 p.m. to honor all those who died in service,” said Richard Goldenberg, commander, Capital District Council Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. He added, “As a Jewish community, we take pride in our faith and our citizenship. In a time of rising anti-Semitism in a nation that we embraced for its diversity and interfaith strength, Memorial Day reminds us that our freedoms are not free.”

The Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A. was founded in 1896 by 63 Jewish Civil War veterans to combat anti-Semitic slurs about Jewish service. Local chapters are represented by Albany Post 105, Commander Fred Altman; Schenectady Post 106, Commander Karl Aurebach; Saratoga Post 36, Commander Sam Gottesman; and Capital District Council Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A., Richard Goldenberg.