Parades, observances, services to mark Memorial Day
National Moment of Remembrance to honor fallen heroes
From the first observance in Waterloo, N.Y., in 1866 honoring local veterans who fought in the Civil War, communities have honored their sons and daughters who gave the ultimate sacrifice for their country.
That commitment continues this Memorial Day weekend, with dozens of observances, parades and services in Erie and Niagara counties.
The National Moment of Remembrance has also been established with Congress’ backing to encourage all Americans to pause for one minute at 3 p. m. on Memorial Day to reflect on those who have died in service to their nation.
Following are area weekend holiday events:
Akron: Parade at 9 a. m. Monday from John and Townsend streets to Russell Park, where ceremonies will be held.
Alden: Parade at 2 p. m. Monday beginning at Alden Central School, Park and Emerson streets.
Amherst: George F. Lamm Post, American Legion, will conduct an observance at 11 a. m. Monday at Williamsville Cemetery.
Angola: Parade at 10 a. m. Monday from Angola Fire Hall, Commercial Street, to Forest Avenue Cemetery for services by the Newcomb Long Post 928, American Legion.
Blasdell: Parade at 1:30 p. m. Sunday from Firemen’s Park, Lake Avenue, to the community center, Salisbury Street, for a 2 p. m. service.
Boston: Parade at 1:45 p. m. Monday from Faith United Church, Boston State Road, to Boston Town Park, where a ceremony will take place at 2 p. m.
Brant: A service will take place at
9 a. m. Monday at Memorial Park on Route 249.
Buffalo: Dr. Patrick Welch, director of Erie County Veterans Services, will speak at a ceremony at 1 p. m. next Saturday in Freedom Hall, Room 301, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 3495 Bailey Ave.
Buffalo Police Reserves will conduct a tribute to fallen officers and service men and women at 9 a. m. Monday at the memorial across from the former Precinct 12 station at Genesee Street and Walden Avenue.
AmVets Post 72 and the Heroes Grove Veterans will hold a memorial service and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11 a. m. Monday to rename a section of Houghton Park to Heroes Grove, honoring heroes past and present.
Cheektowaga: Dedication of a new portion of the veterans monument in Town Park on Harlem Road to recognize service men and women who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Gulf War will take place at 1 p. m. today.
Observance at 10 a. m. Monday at the Walden monument, Harlem Road and Walden Avenue, followed by a service at 11 a. m. at Leonard Post Jr. Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 2450 Walden Ave.
Clarence: Parade at 11 a. m. Monday from Clarence Central High School on Main Street to Clarence Town Park, where a ceremony will take place.
Colden: Parade at 8:30 a. m. Monday from Colden Elementary School on Boston Colden Road to Memorial Park at Town Hall on Route 240, where a service will be held.
Collins: Parade at 9 a. m. Monday from Main Street and Zoar Road to
Collins Center Cemetery, where a ceremony will take place.
Depew: Parade will start at 10:30 a. m. Monday in the Municipal Parking lot at 85 Manitou St.
East Aurora: Military veterans will conduct a procession at 10:30 a. m. Monday from Hamlin Park to Oakwood Cemetery, where an observance sponsored by the Aurora-Cazenovia Post, Veterans of Foreign Wars, will take place at 11 a. m.
Eden: Parade at 11 a. m. Monday from West Church Street to Evergreen Cemetery, where a service will be conducted by Newell Faulkner Post 880, American Legion.
Elma: Parade at 9 a. m. Monday from the Elma Library, Bowen at Rice roads, to Town Hall, where a service will be conducted.
Evans: Evans Veterans Committee will conduct a service at 2 p. m. Sunday at Town Hall.
Farnham: An observance is at 10:30 a. m. Monday at Village Park, Commercial Street.
Gowanda: Parade at 10:30 a. m. Monday from Post 409, American Legion, 100 Legion Drive, to St. John’s Park for a ceremony.
Grand Island: A ceremony will take place at 10 a. m. Monday at Charles N. DeGlopper Memorial Park, Grand Island Boulevard and Baseline Road.
Hamburg: Parade at 10:15 a. m. Monday from Union-Pleasant Elementary School to Village Park, where Post 527, American Legion, will conduct a service at 11 a. m.
Parade at 10:30 a. m. Monday from Southtowns Catholic School parking lot on Versailles Road to the Lakeview Fire Hall on Lakeview Road for a service.
Hamburg Moose Lodge 992, 45 Church St., will conduct a flag burning ceremony at noon Monday.
A service will take place at 1 p. m. Monday at Post 1419, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 2985 Lakeview Road.
Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda: Monday services will be conducted at 8:05 a. m. at Faling Cemetery, Delaware Road and Willowbreeze; 8:15 a. m. at the Vietnam memorial at the flag pole at the Brighton Road entrance of Elmlawn Cemetery; 8:30 a. m. at Field of Honor at the bell in the middle of Elmlawn; 8:45 a. m. at the Field of Honor World War II memorial; 8:50 a. m. at Mount Olivet Monument in Mount Olivet Cemetery; 9:15 a. m. at the Korean memorial at the Municipal Building, Delaware Road and Delaware Avenue, and 9:35 a. m. at the monument in front of the Milton J. Brounshidle Post 205, American Legion, and Harry E. Crosby Post 2472, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 3354 Delaware Ave.
Parade at 11 a. m. Monday from Delaware Avenue near Sheridan Drive to Victoria Boulevard to Mang Park at Elmwood Avenue.
Lackawanna: Centennial parade at 2 p. m. today from Ridge Road and Orchard Place to South Park Avenue, finishing at Veterans Stadium.
Services will be conducted at 11 a. m. Sunday at Col. John Weber Post 898, VFW; at 8:30 a. m. Monday at Post 63, American Legion, and at 1 p. m. Monday at Matthew Glab Post 1477, American Legion.
Lancaster: Post 7275, VFW, will conduct a service at 9 a. m. Monday at Veterans Park. Following the ceremony, the VFW color guard will lead the parade on Lake Avenue to School Street, Pleasant Avenue, Central Avenue and Town Hall.
Lewiston: VFW Memorial Day Parade at 11 a. m. Monday from Village Hall, North Fourth and Center streets, to Academy Park for a veterans memorial service.
Lockport: Service at 11 a. m. Sunday at Cold Spring Cemetery, 4849 Cold Springs Road; parade at 1 p. m. Sunday from Veterans Memorial on East Avenue to the Courthouse, with a ceremony to follow at Lockport Post 2535, VFW, 112 Caledonia St.
A Super Cruise will be held from 3 to 9 p. m. Monday in Ida Fritz Park, Park and West avenues.
Marilla: A service at Evergreen Cemetery will take place at 11 a. m., Monday, followed by a parade from Tomarsue Drive and Two Rod Road to the Firemen’s Memorial, and then to Maplewood Cemetery on East Avenue. The parade will end at the Veterans Memorial on Bullis Road.
Middleport: Sesquicentennial picnic is planned for 2 p. m. Sunday in Rotary Park, Telegraph Road. Local restaurants will provide free samples of their signature dishes during a “Taste of Middleport.” Following the picnic, an ecumenical service will be held at 4 p. m.
A parade is at noon in the village on Monday, and will be followed by a dedication ceremony for the new brick walkway in the Village Commons on Park Avenue.
Newstead: Parade at 9 a. m. Monday from Upper Main Street to Russell Park, where a service will be held.
Niagara Falls: Parade at 11 a. m. today from the City Market, Pine Avenue and 19th Street, to site of the planned veterans memorial in Hyde Park for a remembrance service. Afterward, a free luncheon is open to the public at Post 381, American Legion, 923 Niagara Ave.
North Collins: Parade at 9 a. m. Monday from Langford and New Oregon roads continues to St. Mary’s Cemetery for services.
Parade at 10 a. m. from the Langford Fire Hall on Langford Road to St. Martin’s Cemetery for services.
Parade at 11 a. m. from North Collins High School up Route 62 to Dr. Joy Village Park for a ceremony.
North Tonawanda: Parade starts at 2 p. m. Sunday from Gersh Academy on Payne Avenue and ends with a memorial service at Brauer Park. New this year is “Vet Fest,” from noon to 8 p. m. Sunday in the Seabee Memorial Park, also known as Fisherman’s Park, on River Road. The day will include a custom car show and food from local restaurants. A blues concert begins at 4 p. m. Admission is $10; proceeds benefit the Western New York Veterans Volunteer Service Center.
Orchard Park: Parade starts at 9 a. m. Monday from the Orchard Park Library and goes up South Buffalo Street, to West Quaker Street to Veterans Park for a program.
Sardinia: Parade at 8 a. m. Monday from Veterans Memorial Park on Genesee Road to Sardinia Rural Cemetery for a service.
Somerset: Service at 10 a. m. Monday at Town Hall Veterans Park; Barker Central School Community Band will perform.
Springville: Parade at 10 a. m. Monday from Shuttleworth Park to Maplewood Cemetery on Route 39 for services.
City of Tonawanda: United Veterans Service sponsors a “service at sea” at 12:30 p. m. Sunday at Renaissance Bridge over the Erie Canal.
Parade at 2 p. m. Sunday from Main and Broad streets to City Cemetery.
Wales: Parade at noon Monday from Big Tree Road in Wales Center to the Town Hall, followed by a ceremony at Wales Center Park.
West Seneca: A memorial service will be conducted at 10 a. m. Sunday in St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 2950 Southwestern Blvd.
An observance also will take place at 2 p. m. Sunday in St. Matthew’s Cemetery, 180 Old French Road.
Parade at 10:30 a. m. Monday from Southgate Plaza down Union Road to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Town Hall, where a service will be conducted.
Williamsville: Parade at 2 p. m. Monday from Williamsville South High School to Los Robles Street.
Wilson: Old Fashioned Fair and Flea market, 8 a. m. to 4 p. m. Monday, Wilson Historical Museum, Route 425, with chicken barbecue beginning at 11:30 a. m. Free shuttle bus in the village. More than 200 vendors. Services and wreath-laying ceremony at 10 a. m. in Greenwood Veterans Memorial Park, with the VFW Martin F. Jennings Post 836, Park Street and Route 18.A daylong fair sponsored by the First Baptist Church of Wilson begins at 9 a. m. on Petit Street.
Youngstown: Old Fort Niagara presents “Niagara’s Soldiers Through the Ages,“ from 10 a. m. to 4 p. m. today and Sunday; memorial service at 11 a. m. Monday, War of 1812 cemetery.
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