Village Fountain Debuts With Memorial Day Ceremony

The scorching midday heat didn't deter a crowd from gathering at official "Dedicatory Exercises and Unveiling of the Fountain"event held Monday in downtown Babylon Village.

The summer weather also didn't deter a healthy crowd from watching the festivities and the panel of committee members and politicians who spoke at the dedication.

After introductory remarks, a pledge of allegiance, a moment of silence, and a rousing rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" by Long Island actress Christy Reinert, Reverend Wayne Griffiths from the First Baptist Church of Babylon gave the invocation.

"The fountain serves as a symbol of the life of this village," the Reverend remarked in his speech.

Residents came out in force for the Memorial Day parade earlier in the day and the fountain ceremony, many gathering in the shade on the perimeters of the Historical Society grounds, and others congregating around the fountain's newly complete landscaped surroundings.

The landscaping, along with other tasks necessary for the fountain's recreation, were largely acts of volunteerism and donated time.

Dr. Christopher Proto, the Babylon dentist who co-chaired the project with Judy Skillen, thanked many individuals who contributed, including Jenni McCaffrey for donating her landscaping expertise. A special thank you was also given with flowers to Babylon Village Treasurer Valerie Fronzo, for her help with the fountain's budget and accounting work.

Legislator Wayne Horsley also spoke, calling Babylon a "beautiful, walkable village" that overcame a period of diminished vitality due to the hard work of resident volunteers. Babylon Village Mayor Ralph Scordino echoed his sentiments, calling for an increased commitment to preserving and strengthening community service in Babylon.

A representative was on hand from Ligonier, Pennsylvania, the town where an almost identical fountain to the original Babylon Village model still stands, which allowed the fountain committee to model and source their replica. The day's ceremony also closely adhered to its historic precedent, taking place on Memorial Day 2011 just as the original dedication took place on Memorial Day 1897.

The James Street Players' vocal performance continued in the historic vein, and audience members wearing patriotic straw hats added to the old-timey atmosphere. Pastor Thomas Sutter of the First Presbyterian Church of Babylon offered the benediction, and then the fountain was officially unveiled. There was a brief moment of suspense as the crowd gathered around to see if the water would flow, but everything worked as planned.

"Everything turned out exactly as I had envisioned it, every step of the way," concluded a proud but undoubtedly tired Proto at the end of the ceremony, the final punctuation at the end of a two-year process.