• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

  • Home
  • Advertise
    • Advertise in One or All of our Magazines
    • Advertising Payment Form
  • Print Subscription
  • Digital Subscription
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Login
  • Contact Us

Emerald Society

A Time of Grief and Sadness Brings Community Together Again

July 12, 2016 by Inside Press

Article and Photos By Kelly Leonard

Color Guard awaits vigil.
Color Guard awaits vigil.

Chappaqua, NY, July 11–Four weeks after the Town of New Castle community gathered at its gazebo to mourn the loss of 49 souls gunned down in the Orlando Pulse nightclub terrorist attack, the community gathered again in shock from another week of violence in the U.S. This time we saw the lives of civilians and uniformed police officers taken during the past seven days, including the largest loss of police personnel in a single day in the U.S. since 9/11.

“A Community Gathering in a Time of Grief and Sadness” was held by the Town of New Castle for the community to express its appreciation for the brave individuals who dedicate their lives to law enforcement and to sustaining peace and security on its streets.

In addition to scores of community members, dozens of police and fire personnel came from across Westchester County to honor and remember the fallen including members of the Chappaqua, Millwood, Mount Kisco, Mount Pleasant, and Westchester County Police departments among others. All wore dress uniforms with their badges covered with black bands.

The Emerald Society Bag Pipes Band opened the ceremony followed by a presentation of the Town of New Castle Police Department Color Guard. Chappaqua Central School Board Vice President Victoria Tipp led the Pledge of Allegiance. Speakers included New Castle Town Supervisor Rob Greenstein, Westchester County Legislator Michael B. Kaplowitz, New Castle Chief of Police Charles Ferry, Police Officer Chad Glance, President of the New Castle Police Benevolent Association, Rev. Dr. Martha R. Jacobs, Senior Minister of the First Congregational Church of Chappaqua, Rabbi Jonathan Jaffe of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester, and Khusro Elley of the Upper Westchester Muslim Society.

The names of the five fallen Dallas Police and DART officers–Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael J. Smith, Brent Thompson and Patrick Zamarripa–were read aloud.

The resonating themes of the formal remarks were loss, mourning, honor in service, disparity in justice, and gun violence. While the phrase, “we are not divided, we are united” was said by more than one speaker, at times the remarks underscored the raw emotion felt in the aftermath of last Thursday’s ambush in Dallas.

Town Supervisor Robert Greenstein expressed his outrage about all the lives lost. “Americans of all races and all backgrounds are outraged by police misconduct. It’s unacceptable. When one of us is victimized we all suffer. There’s no division there,” he said. And then added: “Americans of all races and all backgrounds are also outraged when police officers sworn to uphold the law are at risk. Police officers who are protecting those who want to exercise their right to free speech, even if that speech is directed at other police officers, should not be at risk of being murdered. Senseless, heartless, murder.

Greenstein continued: “Whether the event stems from terrorism, hate crimes or any other motive is irrelevant. Gun violence as a tool of hatred targeting race, gender, sexual preference, profession or for any other reason cannot be tolerated. We must say no to gun violence. Lives cannot be lost in vain.”

Chief Ferry spoke of how police departments have more militarized weaponry now in reaction to “the militarization of criminals” and expressed how he is tired of hearing his officers and officers around the country being called racists while they risk their lives to protect their communities. He noted, “Five officers were slaughtered simply for the fact they were police officers.”

Chief Ferry inside the Gazebo addressing the community.
Chief Ferry inside the Gazebo addressing the community.

During his remarks, Khusro Elley of the Upper Westchester Muslim Society said, “We mourn the unfortunate and unnecessary deaths” of the past week and “we are outraged by the killing of African American men and women.” One of the more striking remarks of the evening was when Elley stated, “I would rather be Muslim than Black in America.”

Rabbi Jaffe of Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester offered that gathering was an opportunity for the community to “join together in our feelings of mutual support.” He also quoted from Auschwitz survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel, “The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.”

“I truly pray,” said Rev. Dr. Jacobs of the First Congregational Church of Chappaqua, “I am not standing here in another month for another vigil for another senseless act of violence.”

Rev. Martha Jacobs greeting New Castle police officers.
Rev. Martha Jacobs greeting New Castle police officers.

In closing the ceremony, the Emerald Society Bag Pipes Band played “Amazing Grace” as members of the Chappaqua Fire Department lit and released sky lanterns in memory of the lives lost in the Dallas ambush. The playing and singing of “God Bless America” brought the solemn gathering to a close while many lingered to watch the sky lanterns disappear into the evening sky.
Gathering.EmeraldSociety
Kelly Leonard is the Founder and Principal Consultant of KLO Associates, LLC, a digital marketing boutique specializing in custom content strategy and influencer engagement for authors, publishers, local businesses and nonprofits. Previously she held senior management positions at Time Warner Book Group and Hachette Book Group.

Filed Under: New Castle News Tagged With: Chappaqua, Color Guard, Community Gathering, Emerald Society, gazebo, Grief, New Castle, violence

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • In Chappaqua on April 14th: Remembrance & Dedication of the New Casey Taub Field
  • Over 350 Students From 31 Schools Attend 21st Annual Holocaust & Human Rights Education Center High School Institute at Iona University
  • Greeley Boys Swim & Dive Team Wins State Championship Title Second Year in a Row
  • Chabad Center Invitation to a Community Passover Seder: “Don’t Pass Over Passover!”
  • New Castle Fire District No. 1 Announces Bond Referendum to be Held April 25
  • Don’t Resist JUST DESSERTS at the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center April 28-30

Please Visit

Chappaqua School Foundation
White Plains Hospital
William Raveis – Armonk
William Raveis – Chappaqua
Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival
Houlihan Lawrence – Chappaqua
Houlihan Lawrence – Armonk
Houlihan Lawrence – Briarcliff
Westchester Table Tennis
Compass: Miller-Goldenberg Team
Armonk Tennis Club
Raveis: Stacey Sporn
Compass: Natalia Wixom
Boys & Girls Club
Raveis: Sena Baron
Kevin Roberts Painting & Design
Raveis: Grace Lobello
Compass: Usha Subramaniam
Houlihan Lawrence – Rusminka Rose Jakaj
Wags & Whiskers Dog Grooming
Eye Designs of Armonk

Follow our Social Media

The Inside Press

Our Latest Issues

For a full reading of our current edition, or to obtain a copy or subscription, please contact us.

Inside Chappaqua Inside Armonk Inside Pleasantville

Join Our Mailing List


Search Inside Press

Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Subscription
  • Print Subscription

Footer

Support The Inside Press

Advertising

Print Subscription

Digital Subscription

Categories

Archives

Subscribe

Did you know you can subscribe anytime to our print editions?

Voluntary subscriptions are most welcome, if you've moved outside the area, or a subscription is a great present idea for an elderly parent, for a neighbor who is moving or for your graduating high school student or any college student who may enjoy keeping up with hometown stories.

Subscribe Today

Copyright © 2023 The Inside Press, Inc. · Log in