Submitted by the Memorial Day Parade Committee
We would like to attempt to thank those people that are so important in helping to put on the Baldwinsville Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony that was held on Monday, May 30. In particular, we would first like to recognize the financial support of the village of Baldwinsville and the towns of Lysander and Van Buren. Without their support, the parade would not be possible.
Although there are many people to individually thank, we cannot forget to thank the VFW Post 153 and the American Legion Post 113 and their respective auxiliaries, who each year work endlessly to be sure that we have a parade and ceremony that is a wonderful honor and tribute for those soldiers who have gone before us. They deserve a very big thanks for selecting a grand marshal and a dedication for the parade that sets an important tone for Memorial Day in our community each year.
We then need to thank the village of Baldwinsville’s DPW, who do the behind-the-scenes work the week before to get the sidewalks and streets ready for the parade. It is a lot of work and each year the department makes the time out of their busy schedule to be sure that the parade is ready to go. They also work with the VFW and American Legion to get the flags up and flowers looking their best along the parade route.
We’d like to thank the many service organizations who not only participated in the parade, but helped with the parade and ceremony as well, especially the Baldwinsville Central School District, the local churches and the Baldwinsville Boy and Girl Scout Troops. The local churches helped us to bring back to the parade an older tradition by ringing their bells to begin the parade at 5 p.m. The scout troop members gathered to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in front of the Veteran’s Monument at the U.S. Post Office at the start of the parade. Also, thanks to the CNY Police and Fire Band, Bag Piper Shannon Kennedy, Reverend Joseph Scardella of St. Mary’s Church, the Knights of Columbus, The Baldwinsville Community Band, Baker High School Buglers Aaron DuBois and Parker Bruce and the mayor of the village of Baldwinsville who all helped to make the ceremonies at the two cemeteries go smoothly.
We would like to recognize the wonderful work done by the maintenance staff at the Riverview Cemetery and St. Mary’s Cemetery. Both sites were well prepared and something to be proud of.
We appreciate the memorable speech given by Sarah Baker, our parade day’s President of the day/guest speaker. Her fine words captured what this holiday holds in meaning for her and for the community, and those in attendance were very moved by her message. Also, the Baker High School student speakers did a wonderful job reciting their respective historical selections.
We would like to thank the Village of Baldwinsville Police Department who helped to keep things in order and running smoothly before, during and after the parade. They continue to help during the year with advice on set up and safety procedures for the parade and ceremony as well.
A big thank-you to the staff at PAC-B who do a great job providing coverage of the parade. They show the viewing public the many sides of the parade, from their pre-parade interviews to their play by play of each parade participant marching.
We appreciate all of the beautiful cars that transported the Grand Marshal, the President of the Day/Guest Speaker and the Volunteer Center’s Man and Woman of the Year.
Thank you to all of the volunteers, the many area fire companies and parade participants, and we do not want to forget to thank the following people and clubs:
The Lions Club, Village of Baldwinsville Police Chief Michael Lefancheck, the Baldwinsville Fire Police, the Onondaga County Auxiliary Police, the 174th Fighter Wing Color Guard, John Hudson, Grand Marshal Richard Butera, President of the Day/Guest Speaker Sarah Baker, Volunteer Center’s Woman of the Year Sandy Baker and Man of the Year Jim Honsinger, Baker High School Student Speakers Joshua Stanton, Melissa Henderson and Renny Simone, Patti Mullaney, the Troop leaders and the Baldwinsville Boy and Girl Scout Troops, the mayor and trustees of the village of Baldwinsville, the supervisor and town councilors of the towns of Lysander and Van Buren, County Legislator Derek Shepard, Jr., Sen. John DeFrancisco, Assemblyman William Magnarelli, Assemblyman William Barclay, the Female Charitable Society, Rotary Club, John McFall, Barb Godfrey, Brian’s One Day Dry Cleaning, Nami’s Engraving, the Baldwinsville Community Band, the Central New York Police and Fire Band, the Towpath Volunteers Fife and Drum Corps, the Island Band and the Baker High School Marching Band.
Thank you again to this community for such a wonderful show of support on parade day. We are lucky to work together as a committee to keep this important Memorial Day tradition alive in Baldwinsville.
Members of the Memorial Day Parade Committee are Phill Sterling, Marcia Lamirande, Rosemary Johnson, Ruth Cico, Mike Lockwood, Kimberly and Terry Heffernan, Mike Samoraj, Commander Gary Brown of VFW Post 153, Commander Don Collett of American Legion Post 113 and Linda and Tom Ross.
