McCauley Marks End Of Era With Last Year As Chappaqua Memorial Day Parade Marshal

CHAPPAQUA, NY - James McCauley, a longtime fixture in Chappaqua, is retiring from his duties as a marshal in the Town of New Castle's annual Memorial Day parade.

Speaking after he presided over his last parade as its master of ceremonies, the 40-year resident said that it is "time to turn it over to someone else," likening the change to term limits.

Taking over next year will be Peter Gaudet, a fellow Chappaqua resident who served in the U.S. Army as a captain.

Over the years, McCauley's duties have include being towards the front of the parade lines while moving them along, and in giving introductory speaking remarks for services that were held at the local war memorial once the parades concluded.

McCauley said that he has performed his parade role for "at least 18 years." His tenure as a parade marshal was an eventful one, as he presided over the parades while Chappaqua's famous former first couple, Bill and Hillary Clinton, marched in them.

Asked about the Clintons' presence, McCauley reiterated his main objective each year.

"My mission is to honor the names on the monument and all of our veterans, as well as first responders, et cetera.”

However, McCauley added, “the addition of such notable citizens brings out more people and it helps with the honoring of all of those served as I.”

McCauley, who serves as vice chair of the New Castle's local Republican committee, has long sought to keep politics out of the parade, even as two of America's most prominent Democrats have participated.

“I have tried to keep it that way and I think I’ve succeeded,” he said, adding that he hopes it continues with who comes after him.

The parade went through downtown Chappaqua before concluding at the war memorial, which is in front of the local train station.

John Melkon, a veteran who is with the Center of the Study of Civil Military Operations at West Point, gave the keynote address. Two local teenage Girl Scouts, Rebecca Thrope and Samantha Morrison, spoke about the services of two residents who served in war, Gerard Held and Ralph Heilman.

A group of bagpipers performed a rendition of "Amazing Grace," and students from Horace Greeley High School performed taps and a rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner." A group of Revolutionary War re-enactors from the 5th New York Regiment fired antique guns.

Images of McCauley, along with photos of the service, are attached.

Photos: James McCauley in his final year as marshal at the Memorial Day parade in Chappaqua. Also pictured are photos of John Melkon, Rebecca Thrope and Samantha Morrison. All images were taken by Tom Auchterlonie.