LIVERPOOL — Fred Kies, a village grocer and veteran of World War I, coordinated Memorial Day observances here in Liverpool for an amazing 60 years, from 1918 to 1978.
In 1979, Fred Wyker stepped up to fill Kies’ shoes to head up the parade committee at American Legion Post 188. Wyker, a veteran of World War II who served in France, helmed the Memorial Day observances here for four decades, well into the 21st century.
After Wyker’s passing at age 94 in 2018, Post 188 Commander Ken Palmer and his volunteers carried on the annual tradition which was traditionally opened by a 9 a.m. ceremony with prayers, speeches, awards to local students and a somber recitation of the names of veterans who recently passed.
Given its dwindling membership, however, Post 188 is no longer able to coordinate both the ceremony and the parade, and so the Greater Liverpool Chamber of Commerce has stepped up to carry the ball.
“Anyone can be in the parade,” said Chamber Director Lucretia Hudzinski. “Ken at Post 188 is reaching out to some scholastic marching bands, and we’re signing up people who want to march or have their vehicles in the parade.”
Over the years, parade participants have included Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, veterans, civic and fraternal groups.
Village Trustee Dennis Hebert is assisting the Chamber in coordinating the parade. Hudzinski encouraged those interested to call the chamber at 315-457-3895.
“We’ll make sure to call back to confirm,” she said. “It should be a really fun time for everybody.”
The ceremony is slated to begin at 9 a.m. Monday, May 30, at Johnson Park, with the parade to follow, forming on Second Street, led as usual by a Liverpool Police cruiser.
Marchers will head east toward Memorial Park which features a World War II-era cannon, then the parade will roll west on Oswego Street and north on Tulip Street toward Liverpool Cemetery at the corner of Fifth Street.
