05/23/2026
Every year….ok…well…more often than that….I reread this story I wrote with “Mr. Memorial Day,” the “Americanism Chairman of Nassau County,” dear treasure of a soul Gus Scutari. He wrote that article with me when he was well into his 90s. He would be over 100 now. They were certainly words of wisdom — I don’t think I will ever fail to get something new out of them.
Gus survived a Kamakazi attack during World War II. Anyone who knew Gus will tell you that while this entire chapter of his life involved profound stories, it was the least of what made him very, very special. He brought light and life to all he encountered, even when we was reminding us of the importance of Memorial Day.
Gus had a way of saying things that seemed simple at first; things that would then reverberate with deeper meaning as time passed. I will never forget his face when I asked if he’d like me to read the final copy of his article aloud to him. He saw me realize I’d probably insulted him, and then smiled. He took the draft from me, proofread the whole thing carefully, and then offered a final comment or two, making sure everything was just right.
In 2019, Gus organized the Syosset parade from his room in the local nursing home, where he was living with his wife Fran (another Syosset treasure). Having heard a final phone conversation, I am just about certain that if it weren’t for the parade being cancelled due to COVID, he’d still be here with us making final preparations for it now.
When the parade returned in 2022, the community honored Gus by declaring there would be no Grand Marshal of Syosset’s Memorial Day Parade. They also renamed Underhill Boulevard in his honor, as well as the specific spot on the corner where he led so many moving ceremonies. His beloved VFW, Post 6394 in Syosset, is now The Gus Scutari Post. We suspect that, given the opportunity, Gus would make it clear that the Eugene S. Smith American Legion Post 135 was also very important to him, but is already named after a notable veteran.
Gus wanted us to remember that Memorial Day is about people who gave EVERYTHING for their country. He also wanted us to always remember that this is OUR country, that we should honor that and always remember that it will only ever be as good as we will make it.
Through the parade, and really through every interaction he had with anyone he happened to meet, Gus endeavored to bring people together as Americans. He encouraged us all to give it our best to be good citizens; To think, to honor, to smile…to be the kind of people worthy of those folks who will give everything to defend them. He often worried what would happen to the parade once he was gone. I am grateful to say the community was quietly supporting him more than he knew while he was still here, and has done a good job of carrying his spirit forward, best they can, ever since. I suspect he would be quietly pleased.
Gus never wanted Memorial Day to be about him, though on some level it always was. I suspect it will probably continue to be so in Syosset, at least for a little while. That’s ok. So much of what he was about was apropos of everything.
Still, I will try to get this all out of my system today and then focus where he wanted me to for the rest of this weekend.
May God bless America. May God bless everyone. May we give it our best such that none of this ever be in vain.
We read this over and over and learn something new each time -- WWII Veteran, Memorial Day Parade Organizer, and ardent booster of continuing to endeavor to be a good American in all sorts of ways, Gus Scutari reflects on life.
