By Kate Hill

Staff Writer

This year, Cazenovia’s American Legion Post 88 is requesting community support in observing Memorial Day.

“Due to current restrictions on public gatherings, Cazenovia will not be able to observe Memorial Day in its traditional fashion, but remembering those who have sacrificed for our country is as important as ever,” said Village Mayor Kurt Wheeler.

At 10 a.m. on Monday, May 25, Post 88 will live stream its ceremony, including the annual reading of the names of local veterans who lost their lives in the past year.

The link for the live stream will be shared prior to Memorial Day on the Village of Cazenovia website, the CazCOVIDResponse website, and numerous local social media venues.

Parents/guardians are encouraged to view the ceremony with their children and explain to them the meaning of Memorial Day. Descriptions of the holiday and its history can be found at history.com/topics/holidays/memorial-day-history and on the Department of Veterans Affairs website at va.gov/opa/speceven/memday/history.asp.

Residents are also asked to observe the holiday at 11 a.m. outside their own homes.

“Please commemorate the day in a manner of your choosing such as conducting a moment of silence, playing taps, singing a patriotic song, or other appropriate observance,” Wheeler said. “This will prevent a large gathering in Memorial Park and will allow for social distancing to keep everyone safe but create a mechanism for broad public involvement in this important holiday. Thank you for your role in remembering our nation’s fallen heroes.”

Cazenovia’s COVID-19 response

On May 14, Cazenovia, along with Madison County and the Central New York Region, received permission to begin reopening its economy.

Detailed guidance for businesses included in “Phase I” of the reopening can be found on the CazCOVIDResponse website.

“These guidelines are designed to keep us safe as we steadily reopen our economy so we can keep moving forward and not have setbacks caused by a spike of infections,” Wheeler said. “. . . As of May 15, there was only one active case of COVID-19 in the entire Cazenovia area. If we are smart and disciplined we can get our neighbors back to work, begin to enjoy a better quality of life and stay safe at the same time. The key is understanding how the virus spreads and being vigilant about the basics: practice social distancing, wear a mask when you cannot, wash your hands frequently, don’t touch your face, and disinfect surfaces that others may have touched.”

The village recently distributed picnic tables in both Lakeland and Lakeside Parks to provide the public with safe places to gather outdoors while practicing social distancing.

According to the mayor, the village is looking into placing tables in other public green spaces as well.

Residents are asked to restrict their “dining groups” to immediate family, to socially distance from other groups, and to wipe down the tables before and after use.

“These tables are also a great way to support our local restaurants and shops,” Wheeler said. “Get a takeout meal or snack and enjoy it safely with your family in one of our parks . . . You will begin to see more of our local shops reopening this week, including retail shops for pick-up services. It has been a long two months for these businesses [so] go out and support them whenever you can. Our local businesses are always there for us when we have community events and need their help. Now we need to help them.”

Wheeler added that the Restart Cazenovia group has begun meeting to develop a safe, proactive plan to steadily return residents’ lives and the economy back to normal.

“I would like to thank the Chamber of Commerce, CACDA, the College and our business and medical community for their time and support with this effort,” he said.