Commemoration of Memorial Day will extend through Wednesday in Baldwinsville.
As is tradition for the village, the Memorial Day Parade will take place on May 30 as was originally ordered by General John A. Logan on May 5, 1868.
“The 30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with flowers or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of their country,” General Logan’s Orders begins (for the full reading, see page 6).
While all service men and women will be honored and remembered during this year’s commemoration, there will be a special focus on veterans of the Korean War with Baldwinsville’s William “Bill” Hare, a veteran of the Korean War, serving as the parade’s Grand Marshall.
“We are honoring our Korean War Veterans this year, and Bill is a decorated Korean War Vet,” said Sarah Baker, a co-coordinator of the annual Memorial Day Parade. “He was wounded at Pork Chop Hill, a renowned battle in the Korean War.”
Another local resident being honored on the 30th is Charles “Chuck” Brooks, a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom, who will serve as President of the Day and as a guest speaker during the ceremony following the parade.
“[Chuck] is one of our own, a graduate of CW Baker High School, and he exemplifies what is finest in the young people who go through or school system,” Baker said.. “He has come back to be part of his home town and community.”
The parade portion of the commemoration will feature music from the following marching bands: CNY Police and Fire Band; Marc DuBois Pipers; City of Syracuse Highland Pipe and Drums; CW Baker High School Band; and Baldwinsville Community Band.
In addition, the 122nd Regiment Infantry “Onondagas” re-enactors will again march in the parade, and afterward will be stationed at the Civil War Monument at Riverview Cemetery for the memorial service immediately following the parade.
“It is of great importance that the community attends the traditional ceremony at Riverview Cemetery,” Baker said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for parents to share the rich history of Baldwinsville.”
Grand Marshall William Hare
William Hare began his training at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas on May 28, 1951 as part of the 5th Armored Division and deployed for Korea in September of 1951. During his first tour of duty, he was wounded taking Pork Chop Hill and still carries some shrapnel in his arm from that fabled encounter. After recovering from his wounds, he re-enlisted and served another tour of duty in Korea, serving a total of approximately six years. Hare reached the rank of Sargeant during the years of his enlistment. He was awarded the Korean War Medal, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge for his bravery while serving our country.
Hare was born in Syracuse, but has lived in Baldwinsville for much of his life. He has served as commander of both American Legion Post 113 and Albert Glen Richardson VFW Post 153 in Baldwinsville. In addition, he served on the committee that raised the money to restore Baldwinsville’s Civil War Monument now located at Riverview Cemetery in Baldwinsville. Most recently, he has served loyally and enthusiastically as a member of the Baldwinsville Memorial Day Committee.
“We as a community are extraordinarily grateful for his contributions to our cherished Memorial Day tradition,” Baker said. “Ever since Jack, Peg, Mace and I took over, Bill has always been the one person who enthusiastically attended the meetings and everything involved with Baldwinsville’s Memorial Day Parade. He’s done a lot and cares so much about Memorial Day.”
Guest Speaker and President of the Day Charles Brooks
As an Infantry captain deployed on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border from 2003-04, Brooks planned, coordinated and executed an Information Operations campaign that became an example to the Combined Joint Task Force on successfully integrating non-lethal effects into a highly contested battlefield.
During his daily patrolling, Brooks became intimately familiar with the highs and the lows of living and operating in a warzone. For his efforts, then Captain Brooks was awarded the Bronze Star. Brooks is a 1996 graduate of C.W. Baker High School and a 2000 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He currently works as a structural engineer for C&S Companies and holds a professional engineering license in New York, Texas and Nunavut/Northwest Territories of Canada.
Schedule of events
6 p.m. Wednesday, May 30
Downtown Baldwinsville (routes 31 and 48)
5:45 p.m. Veteran’s Monument, East Genesee Street
Placement of Memorial Wreath and raising the colors
6:15 p.m. Wreath Ceremony at the bridge over the Seneca River
6:45 p.m. St. Mary’s Cemetery Service Tappan Street
7 p.m. Riverview Cemetery Tappan Street
Call to Colors and raising of the Colors (The Eric Dalaker Memorial Flag)
Placement of the Wreaths
America The Beautiful and placement of flowers at the Honor Roll Memorial
Guest Speaker – Charles Brooks
Recitation by Baker HS students:
Gettysburg Address – Haley Roberts
In Flanders Fields – Holly McMahon
Logan’s Orders – Scott Wolff
CW Baker HS students Julie Keefe and Joanne Damiano will accompany the Community Band in singing the National Anthem
Amazing Grace by piper Shannon Kennedy
Salute over the graves
Taps
