Communities large and small throughout the region will host parades and ceremonies to honor the men and women who fought and died in service to our country. Here’s a look at some of the events:
New York
Argyle
The Argyle American Legion will host a Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29, which will begin at the laundromat on Route 197, proceed to Sheridan Street and end at the American Legion on County Route 47 where there will be a ceremony to commemorate the day. The ceremony will include a wreath-laying and volley from the Legion in front of the memorial stone.
Cambridge
For Memorial Day, Monday, May 29, Captain Maxson Post 634 will remember the fallen at the following times and locations: 7:30 a.m. at the Eagle Bridge Post Office; 8 a.m. at Woodland Cemetery; 8:30 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Cemetery; and 9 a.m. at Memorial Park in Cambridge.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. at Academy Street and will proceed east toward Main Street and then south on Route 22, ending at Cambridge Central School.
Fort Ann
In Fort Ann, the Memorial Day parade will be held on Monday, May 29, and will start at Fort Ann Central School at 10 a.m. It will proceed down Catherine Street and end at the George Street Park, where everyone is welcome to gather for speeches, music and ceremony.
Granville
Memorial Day parades and tributes will take place on Monday, May 29, beginning at 8 a.m. with the placing of memorial wreaths in front of the school monuments at Granville Junior/Senior High School.
The Granville VFW and American Legion will then place wreaths at Elmwood Cemetery at 9 a.m. and Mettowee Cemetery at 9:30 a.m. The parade formation and kickoff will take place at 10 a.m. by Gemini Fitness on East Main Street.
The parade will make stops along the route to lay wreaths at the World War II clock at the former TD Bank on Main Street and on the Main Street bridge, where there will a short ceremony for sailors and soldiers lost at sea. The Granville High School Senior band will play the Navy Hymn “Eternal Father, Strong to Save” after the sounding of “Taps.”
The parade will proceed to Veterans Memorial Park, where the Granville Junior/Senior High School band will play the “Star Spangled Banner.” The ceremony will include a chaplain’s prayer as well as comments by Mayor Paul Labas and Town Supervisor Matt Hicks. Instead of a guest speaker, there will be a special memorial ceremony for a Marine who was killed in action in Vietnam.
Parade participants are welcome to take part in a luncheon at the American Legion following the ceremony.
Greenwich
Greenwich’s Memorial Day remembrance will take place on Friday, May 26, with a parade through town starting at 6 p.m. The parade will go down Main Street, taking a left past Stewart’s and onto Abeel. There will be a ceremony at the VFW starting around 6:20 p.m. The VFW is dedicating its new Honor Brick area this year.
After the ceremony there will be hotdogs and drinks on the VFW pavilion with the New York Lounge Lizards providing music. All veterans and family are invited to march, and everyone is invited to the parade, ceremony and celebration.
For updated information, send an email with the subject line “Parade!” to jackandluke@ hotmail.com.
This event is sponsored by Greenwich VFW Post 7291 and American Legion Post 515.
Hartford
Hartford’s Memorial Day commemoration will kick off on Monday, May 29, with a parade beginning at 6 p.m. starting at Hartford Central School, traveling north on Hartford Main Street and ending at the Town Barn. The parade will contain lots of fire trucks and will include a recitation of the Gettysburg Address by President Abraham Lincoln played by Phil Jessen.
Confirmed to be in attendance this year are U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik, State Senator Jake Ashby and Assemblyman Matt Simpson.
Immediately following the ceremony and before the parade begins, Hartford United Methodist Church and Hartford Yoked Parish will ring their bells. Once the bells have been run, the parade will begin.
In addition, New York’s last remaining Civil War Enlistment Center at 55 Hartford Main St. will be open to visitors from 5 to 7 p.m. New this year are two exhibits: “Old Mills of Hartford” and “Letters to Home.” All are invited to learn about the early history of the village and the life experiences of the Civil War soldiers from their letters and diaries.
There also will be a take-out chicken barbecue dinner at Hartford United Methodist Church at 47 Hartford Main Street from 1 p.m. until sold out.
Hoosick Falls
Hoosick Falls American Legion Post 40 will conduct its annual Memorial Day parade on Monday, May 29, starting from Wood Park at 10 a.m. Join the Legion and the village as they honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. A ceremony of remembrance will take place at the park immediately following the parade.
Marchers, antique and classic cars, tractors, floats and bands are welcome to participate. For more information on participating, call Kevin O’Malley at 518-894-5035 or email [email protected].
Hudson Falls/Kingsbury
The Hudson Falls and Kingsbury parades will take place on the streets of the village and town this Memorial Day, Monday, May 29. First will be the Kingsbury parade, which will form at the Franklin Street lot of Hudson Falls High School at 9 a.m. heading to the Moss Street Cemetery for a memorial service.
The Hudson Falls portion of the parade will begin at 11 a.m. at the Hudson Falls village office and proceed down to Union Cemetery in the town of Fort Edward, across from the Washington County Center Campus.
Salem
Memorial Day events in Salem will start in Shushan at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 29, (see below) and continue at 10 a.m. starting at the Salem Courthouse Community Center. All are encouraged to attend.
Shushan
A Memorial Day service will be held at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 29, at the Memorial Park located on Main Street.
All are welcome to attend this special outside service to remember and honor the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.
South Glens Falls
South Glens Falls will celebrate Memorial Day with a parade on Friday evening, May 26, at 6 p.m., with staging beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The parade will start at the corner of Main and John streets with Division #1 followed by Division #2 at McHugh Street, Division #3 at Haviland and Division #4 at Wilson Avenue. The parade will head north on Main Street, take a right onto Fifth Street and bear right to access Ferry Street, ending at Veterans Memorial Park for a wreath-laying ceremony when the parade ends at approximately 7-7:30 p.m.
There will not be public parking around the park. Parking will be reserved for officials and for those who are disabled.
Valley Falls
Valley Falls Free Library in Valley Falls, New York, will sponsor a Memorial Day observance on Saturday, May 27, at 10 a.m. on the library lawn at 42 State St. Valley Falls. Participants will honor and remember those who died in service to our country. The service includes traditional flag lowering, wreath-laying, the sounding of “Taps’ and special music.
Whitehall
Whitehall’s Memorial Day parade and events will take place on Monday, May 29.
The day’s events will begin with a memorial Mass at 8 a.m. at Our Lady of Angels Cemetery. All are welcome.
Following the Mass, the parade will kick off at 11 a.m., with the Whitehall Band marching for the second time since the beginning of the pandemic. The parade will follow the usual route, turning onto Clinton Street off of Main Street. It will pause at the gun battery park for the laying of a wreath, the sounding of “Taps” and a 21-gun salute. The parade will then continue down Route 22 to Broadway, Poultney Street and Williams Street before turning onto the bridge and ending in Riverside Park, where a ceremony will take place.
This year American Legion Post 83 Auxiliary will vote on the best patriotism-themed float.
Following the ceremony in the park, American Legion Post 83 will host a light luncheon for the public.
Vermont
Brandon
On Monday, May 29, at 10 a.m., Brandon will commemorate Memorial Day with a small parade, a few speeches and a 100-plus-year-old tradition of first-grade girls placing flowers at the base of the Civil War Monument.
Castleton
Castleton’s American Legion Post 50 will present a Memorial Day parade on Saturday, May 27. The parade will form up at 9 a.m. at the Morton Building on the east end of town and will step off at 10 a.m., stopping at the monuments at the library and in the middle of town for a short ceremony. The ceremony will include an opening prayer, remarks by Legion post commander Richard Baptie, laying of the wreaths at the monument and a gun salute.
All parade participants are invited to a free luncheon at the Legion post after the parade.
Fair Haven
On Saturday, May 27, Fair Haven’s 2023 Spring Fling will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Fair Haven Town Green. The fling will be the first event of the summer season.
In the early afternoon, attention turns to the annual Memorial Day ceremony and parade. Fair Haven American Legion Post 49 Sergeant-at-Arms Sean Galvin said the laying of the wreath at the cannon will take place at approximately 12:50 p.m., immediately followed by a procession to the memorial in the park at the flagpole. After a short ceremony, the parade will begin.
This year’s parade will feature a float competition with cash prizes for first-, second- and third-place winners.
In past years, the parade has featured marchers from the local American Legions, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, dance and Little League teams. Old cars, fire companies, local race car drivers and the Shriners minis have also graced the parade route, ushering in the unofficial start of summer in Fair Haven style.
Those who would like to participate in the parade can contact Galvin at [email protected].
Middletown Springs
“For Those Who Never Came Home” is the theme of the 54th annual Middletown Springs Memorial Day parade, set for Sunday, May 28. Lineup will take place at 2 p.m. with step-off at 3 p.m. at the corner of Route 133 and Buxton Avenue. The parade will proceed north on Route 133 to the town green.
A ceremony on the green will follow the parade where those who have given the ultimate sacrifice, through either direct contact in battle or veterans who have died due the trauma or effects of war will be honored.
The event will close with the traditional honor guard salute provided by Rutland’s American Legion Post’s Color Guard. These veterans, many getting on in age and no longer able to easily walk the parade route still feel the duty to come out and honor their fallen comrades. The Color Guard will be accompanied by the Mill River Union High School marching band. It should be pointed out that the Mill River Union High School Band has been a dedicated and much-appreciated part of the parade. They are led by their band director Peter Roach.
The Middletown Springs Volunteer Fire Department will have hamburgers, hot dogs, baked goods, popcorn, soft drinks, and water for purchase on the southeastern edge of the green and a sugarhouse snack truck will be on site, too.
If you are interested in participating, please do so! Contact Bob Bruttomesso at [email protected].
West Rutland
West Rutland’s annual Memorial Day celebration will take place on Monday, May 29, at 10 a.m. The event is an annual town tradition that honors West Rutland’s heroes and celebrates the community. The day begins with a parade throughout town, followed by an awards ceremony and picnic at the American Legion.
The parade will begin at Noonan Lane, travel north on Clarendon Avenue and west on Main Street to Marble Street. “Taps” will be sounded and a gun salute will take place at the WWII memorial at the Town Hall. The parade will then continue west on Marble Street to Barnes Street to the cemeteries where a gun salute and “Taps” will be sounded again. The parade will continue east on Main Street to the West Rutland School, south on Clarendon Avenue and end at Noonan Lane.
