By MAUREEN PICHÉ

and CRAIG FREILICH

Members of the armed forces who lost their lives will be honored and remembered at special parades and services on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30.

The Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars will lead remembrances for deceased veterans.

Here is a rundown of area observances in Potsdam, Canton, Massena, Ogdensburg, Norwood, Colton, South Colton, Tri-Town and Hermon:

Potsdam

Flags will be placed at the graves of deceased soldiers on May 25 at 11 a.m.

The traditional ceremonies at cemeteries around Potsdam will be held Sunday, May 29, where members of veterans’ groups conduct ceremonies for fallen comrades.

After gathering at the VFW hall at the corner of Market and Washington Streets at 9 a.m., participants will travel to Bayside Cemetery, St. Mary's Cemetery, Garfield Cemetery, and the Southville Cemetery. Services at each location will include a gun salute, playing of Taps, presentation of wreaths, chaplain's presentation and prayer. The group then gathers in front of the Potsdam Civic Center for a final ceremony. All are welcome at any or all of the sites.

Potsdam's traditional Memorial Day parade will be on Monday.

Marchers line up at Potsdam Central School on Leroy Street before they step off at 9 a.m.

The parade will take Leroy Street, onto Cottage Street, then turn left onto Market Street and continue into Ives Park downtown.

The parade will include vehicles and representatives of area fire and police departments and rescue squads, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, high school bands, and members of the VFW, American Legion and the DAV. Anyone else who would like to participate is welcome.

In Ives Park, a rifle team and veterans will lead people to the gazebo, where there will be speeches and services. Stanley Crump of the Disabled American Veterans will be MC. Monsignor Robert Aucoin and Methodist Rev. Jim Barnes will give the blessings. There will be a presentation and guest speakers including Mayor Ron Tischler and Supervisor Marie Regan and Army Staff Sgt. DaWayne Krepel, a recruiter. A ceremonial wreath will be thrown in the river for the unknown sailor.

Canton

In Canton, the Memorial Day parade, organized by the Edward C. Seymour VFW Post 1231, begins at 10 a.m. Monday from the Army Reserve Center, West Main Street. Participating marchers will line up there at 9:30. Those veterans who want to be there but can’t walk can call the post, 386-8953, for a ride

The traditional ceremony honoring Navy, Marine and other maritime veterans will take place when the parade reaches the bridge on Main Street. There will be rifle salute and a wreath will be sent out on the Grasse River.

The procession of musical groups, vehicles and members of local fire departments, police, sheriff department and state police, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, and members of the VFW and Auxiliary ends at the village park with a ceremony there.

Besides veterans, the event will honor law enforcement officers who this month observe National Peace Officers Memorial Day. To honor the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War and the men and women who dedicated their lives to that cause.

After the parade and ceremonies, the VFW serves refreshments at the post, 34 Gouverneur St. The public is welcome.

Massena

The Memorial Day Parade in Massena, sponsored by the American Legion Post #79, will start at Sacred Heart Church and proceed through downtown to the Veterans Memorial Park on Andrews Street.

Start time is 11 a.m. Marchers are asked to meet at the legion hall on East Orvis Street at 9 a.m. for a 10 a.m. lineup.

Ogdensburg

The parade on Monday starts from Library Park on Riverside Avenue at 10 a.m., after the lineup at 9:20. They march up State Street to the Ogdensburg Cemetery for an hour-long wreath laying ceremony and service in the veteran’s plot.

At noon the marchers retire to the VFW building, 525 Caroline St., for soup and sandwiches.

Norwood

The Norwood Memorial Day Celebration will start with a brief memorial to Navy veterans at the Spring Street Bridge at 10:55 a.m. A prayer will be said and a wreath placed into the water, followed by a rifle salute to the dead with Taps.

The parade will start on Spring Street at 11 a.m. It will continue to Park Avenue and end at the Norwood Village Green.

On the green, a service honoring all veterans who have served or are serving our country will be held. This will include a POW/MIA table reading and a flag folding by the ROTC.

A luncheon will be held at the Norwood American Legion Post 68 for all parade participants following the service in the park.

Some of the participants expected to be in the parade are members of the Post 68 American Legion, The Norwood Volunteer Fire Department, The Norwood Volunteer Fire Department Band (The Brass Firemen), The Norwood-Norfolk High School Marching Band, The West Potsdam Fire Department, and others.

The parade route will be decorated with dozens of three-by-five-foot American flags, purchased by the Legion, Norwood Fire Department, the Norwood Lake Association, and Norwood Kiwanis. They will also be on display for the July 4th parade and celebration.

Colton and South Colton

Those participating in Colton Memorial Day parades are asked to meet at 9:30 a.m. in the Colton-Pierrepont High School parking lot.

The parade in Colton will start at 10 a.m. and travel through town to the cemeteries. Amvets will lay a wreath at the memorial in front of the library. Afterwards, at about 11:15 a.m., participants regroup in South Colton for a parade from the post office, to the cemetery on Snell Road, to the fire station, where a ceremony will take place.

Marchers will include the Colton-Pierrepont School Band, the Colton Fire Department, and a color guard of veterans. The Pierrepont Fire Department is also expected to march this year.

Tri-Town

American Legion Post 514 is host of Memorial Day ceremonies in the Brasher-Stockholm-Lawrence area on Monday.

The schedule of ceremonies is 9 a.m. at Winthrop Cemetery, 9:20 a.m. at Fairview Cemetery, 10 at Veterans Park in Lawrenceville, Hill Crest in Lawrenceville 10:20, St. Lawrence Cemetery at 10:40, and St. Patrick’s Cemetery at 11:30.

The procession will be at Main Street bridge in Brasher Falls at noon, and ends up at American Legion Post 514 in Winthrop at 12:30.

At the ceremonies at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, the bridge in Brasher Falls, and at the post, marchers will be joined by members of the South Glengarry Pipes and Drums from Ontario.

The American Legion will be honoring fallen comrades by name at each cemetery. If you would like a loved one recognized, you may call the Legion at 389-9102 after 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday with the name, rank, and the cemetery where they are buried.

Hermon

The Memorial Day parade in Hermon will begin at 10:30 a.m., lining up at the post office starting at 10. There will be a service at the cemetery and a luncheon at the fire hall afterwards. Everyone is welcome.