Memorial Day festivities planned around St. Lawrence County

BY NCTW STAFF

North Country This Week

With the sounds of bugles ringing out Taps and local marching bands performing the National Anthem, communities across St. Lawrence County will honor their fallen veterans over Memorial Day weekend, with the bulk of the ceremonies and festivities taking place Monday, May 29.

A Memorial Day parade will return to the Potsdam community after a four-year hiatus, and other parades are planned in Hermon, Norwood, Norfolk, Massena, and Waddington. 

Other communities like Canton, Ogdensburg, Heuvelton and DeKalb are planning ceremonies but no parades. 

Norwood

Following tradition, the Norwood American Legion Post 68 is again hosting its annual Memorial Day parade.

One of the organizers Jeffrey Gerrish said events will feature a two-part ceremony this year.

The Legion will do its initial “Bridge Ceremony” at about 10:45 a.m. There will be a 21-gun salute, prayer and a wreath dropped into the water from the bridge in Norwood. The buglers from the Brass Firemen will perform Taps.

“That’s sort of a kick off to the parade,” he said.

The marchers will line up and step off around 11 a.m., Gerrish said.

Participating in the parade this year will be the Norwood, Norfolk, Potsdam and West Potsdam fire departments, the Norwood Central School Band, the Brass Firemen, Potsdam Rescue Squad and the Girl Scouts.

The parade will travel along Spring Street towards the village center, turn left onto Park, then turn right and head toward Main Street, pass in front of the municipal offices and then end at the park.

“We are very fortunate, we always have a very good turnout down in the park at the end of the parade,” Gerrish said.

At noon, in the park there will be a raising of the flag from half to full mast and the Norwood Central band will perform the National Anthem.

A free picnic-style lunch will be offered at the Legion after the festivities conclude.

Ogdensburg

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Ogdensburg Post 2936 and American Legion Post 69 Memorial Day Ceremony will be held on Monday May 29 at 11 a.m. at the Veterans Cemetery in Ogdensburg. Commander Compo urges the community to attend the ceremony and pay tribute to all Veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our  country. There will be a luncheon at the VFW Post at 1112 Champlain Street immediately after the ceremony and all are welcome.

Prior to that a memorial service, the Ogdensburg Veterans Association will hold a ceremony at the Vietnam Memorial Monument at 9 a.m. Deacon Larry Caufield will hold a prayer service and the names of all St. Lawrence County armed forces veterans who died in that war will be read aloud. 

Caufield said the service is expected to take about 30 minutes.

Massena 

Folks looking for entertainment on Memorial Day will once again be able to attend Massena’s annual parade next Monday.

The Massena VFW Post 1143 is organizing the parade this year.

The parade is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart on Main Street, winding its way down Andrews Street and ending in Veteran’s Memorial Park.

A wreath laying ceremony will be held at Veteran’s Memorial Park at the conclusion of the parade.

Potsdam

After a four-year hiatus, Amvets Post 282 of Potsdam will hold its traditional Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 29.

All participants are asked to line up at the Potsdam High School south parking lot, as in the past. Lineup begins at 9 a.m. The parade starts at 9:30 a.m. The parade will depart the school parking lot and proceed down Garden Street, then to Market Street and end at the entrance to Ives Park.

At 10 a.m. at the Veterans Memorial in Ives Park, a ceremony will take place to remember and honor all of our brave citizens who gave their lives in service of the United States of America. 

Canton

In Canton, there will be Memorial Day festivities but no parade. The event on Monday, May, 29 will begin at 10:30 a.m. at the Main Street bridge for a wreath ceremony, then proceed to the Village Park for an 11 a.m. ceremony. 

Members of the firing squad of Edward C. Seymour Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1231 in Canton will then visit the Fairview Cemetery in Canton where a gun salute will be fired over the grave of Charles Alexander, a World War II veteran in the U.S. Navy.

The public is welcome to the VFW Post, Gouverneur St., for a luncheon.

Also, a Memorial Day Mass will be offered at 9 a.m. at St. Mary's Cemetery, Canton. Please bring a chair. In case of rain, there will be Mass only at Saint Mary's Church at 9 a.m. in Canton. All are welcome.

Norfolk

Earlier that morning, Memorial Day will be celebrated in Norfolk with a parade from 9 a.m.-10 a.m. featuring music by the Norwood Brass Firemen and others.

Heuvelton

Amvets Post 1997 will observe Memorial Day, May 28, with a Memorial Day Observance at Hillcrest Cemetery 1 p.m. and Pine Hill Cemetery at 2 p.m.

A luncheon will follow at Heuvelton Amvets Post, 107 State St.

Brasher Falls

American Legion Post 514 is hosting a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 29, at Veterans Park (across from town hall) in Brasher Falls at noon.

All are welcome.

Waddington

Waddington's Memorial Day Parade will have a change of route this year.

The parade will start on Linden Avenue and proceed up Lagrasse Street to the village square and end at the Memorial for a solemn observation.

It will be led by the American Legion.

The public is encouraged to attend both the parade and the Memorial Observation. Parade begins at 10:30.

As a reminder, this is a solemn observation and political demonstrations and signs are not appropriate, said organizers.

DeKalb

A Memorial Day service will be held at 8 a.m. at St. Henry's Cemetery, DeKalb Junction.

Hermon

The Village of Hermon is sponsoring a Memorial Day parade at 10:30.  

Marchers should line up at 10 am at Hermon Post Office.

After the parade, there will be a service at the Hermon Cemetery with a community potluck dinner to follow at Hermon Fire Hall.  

For more information or to walk in the parade, contact Kelly Hamilton at 315-347-2285.