The commander of the Greenport American Legion post wants people to stop blaming Southold Supervisor Scott Russell for canceling the town’s Memorial Day parade.
“I hate to see him get crucified for this when it wasn’t his fault,” Post commander Craig Richter said in an interview this afternoon.
He was responding to the criticism of Russell unleashed on Facebook after the town announced Saturday evening the parade would be canceled due to a weather forecast calling for heavy rain, thunderstorms and flash flooding Monday morning.
“The Southold Town parade is run by the three legion posts. This year it was Greenport’s turn,” Richter said. “I should have been more involved and I wasn’t,” he said, explaining that he has been sidelined recently due to health issues. “I should have been involved in that decision and I wasn’t,” he said.
But the decision, Richter said, was made by the legion, not by the supervisor.
“It’s not fair to blame him for canceling it,” Richter said.
Russell, who previously said the decision to cancel the parade was made in consultation with a parade coordinator, who asked that the town not wait till the last minute to cancel due to weather, said today he was stung by the criticism he’s gotten.
“I will compare my record in support of veterans with anyone else’s,” he said.
Russell said that a parade coordinator contacted the town about canceling the parade. Before town officials made any decision, the coordinator “told folks at the Southold legion” by 3 p.m. Saturday that the parade had been canceled. A request was made to post a notice on the town’s website.
“I thought I was supposed to cancel it formally,” Russell said. So, believing the parade had been canceled by the legion, he made the formal announcement by way of an email from the police chief.
He didn’t expect the backlash that followed.
Richter said in hindsight, he regrets the legion’s decision — but it was the legion’s decision, not the the supervisors, he reiterated.
“I doubt it will ever happen again,” Richter said. “Maybe if there’s a tornado or something, but not for rain.”
Yesterday morning, Richter carried the flag at the head of an impromptu parade organized by community members. More than 70 adults marched behind him, from Veterans Memorial Park on First and Main streets to Mitchell Park.
“It’s a very important observance and we take it very seriously,” Richter said.
