Patricia Perry is the 2015 Grand Marshall of Memorial Day parade

GOSHEN — When Goshen’s Patricia Perry was first notified that the local American Legion Post #377 and VFW Post# 1708 had chosen her as the 2015 Grand Marshall for this year’s Memorial Day parade, her first reaction was “why me?”

A brief look at Perry's life leaves no doubt as to why she was chosen to represent all veterans.

Perry was born in New York City and graduated from Walton High School in the Bronx near the end of WWII.

After working in the NYC Health Department for three years, the onset of the Korean conflict motivated her to visit her local recruiting office.

Before long she found herself on a train to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS for basic training and code school as part of a communications division of military intelligence.

While in Biloxi, she met her first husband Leonard Warren who was also serving in the USAF

They were both transferred to Albuquerque, NM and eventually received honorable discharges from the service.

Warren's career in sales took them across the country. Along the way, Perry gave birth to five children,four of whom joined the service and had distinguished careers of their own.

Perry's oldest son Donald was in the US Navy before transferring into the Coast Guard. He was killed in action while investigating drug cartel activities in Columbia.

Daughter Patricia was a lieutenant in the US Navy serving as a nurse and later lost a courageous battle with cancer over 10 years ago.

Michael is a retired lieutenant colonel from the US Marine Corp and resides in Virginia with his wife Susan.

Kevin recently retired as a colonel in the US Army and resides with his family in Maryland. And youngest son Christopher did not pursue a military career but died a few years ago from injuries sustained in a tragic automobile accident.

Perry and her family have lived in Goshen since the early 1970’s. Patricia, Michael, Kevin and Christopher are all graduates of Goshen High School.

Her children are proud of their mother being chosen as the 2015 Grand Marshall.

"They were tremendous role models while we were growing up. Joining the service wasn’t unusual, it was the normal thing to do," said Michael Warren.

Perry has been married to her second husband Ted Perry for 44 years who was a sergeant in the US Army and stationed in Africa for six years.

Perry's public service has extended far beyond her military enlistment.

She returned to college and received nursing degrees from both SUNY Orange and Mount Saint Mary’s College in Newburgh. She worked at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in NYC as well as a private duty nurse for many patients in the Hudson Valley.

In her spare time, she has been involved in Sweet Adeline’s, Catholic War Veterans Post 1923 in Goshen and is a lifetime member of American Legion Post# 377.

The 2015 Memorial Day parade will begin at 11 a.m. from Erie Street and go through the Village of Goshen.

Services will follow at the Everett Monument at Harriman Square.