BALDWINSVILLE — After a COVID hiatus, the village of Baldwinsville’s Memorial Day Parade will take place once again Monday, May 30.
The day begins with the Veterans Monument Service at 9:45 a.m. in front of the U.S. Post Office. The parade begins at 10 a.m. and will stop around 10:15 a.m. for the wreath ceremony on the Seneca River. Memorial Day services wrap up at Riverview Cemetery at 10:30 a.m.
Read on to meet the guest speakers, grand marshal and President of the Day.
President of the Day: Mayor Dick Clarke
The Baldwinsville Memorial Day Parade Committee is very honored to name Baldwinsville Mayor Dick Clarke as the President of the Day of the 2022 Memorial Day Parade.
Dick, a Baldwinsville native, graduated from Baker High School in 1964. He attended Onondaga Community College before graduating with a bachelor of science in radio/TV and a minor in journalism, from Southern Illinois University in 1970.
Dick then returned to Baldwinsville and in 1971 began a 36-year career as a reporter for the Syracuse Herald-Journal and later the Post-Standard. As a reporter, Dick covered high school sports for 12 years and spent the last six years of his career as a government reporter. It was that job that triggered his interest in becoming involved in local politics.
Following his 2007 retirement, Dick went on to work for 10 years at the New York State Fair in the sports activity area. In 2009, he ran and was elected to the Baldwinsville Village Board of Trustees. In 2014 he ran and was elected mayor of Baldwinsville and has since been re-elected twice.
Like his parents Barney and Lucille Clarke and sisters Cindy and Wendy, Dick has spent the majority of his adult life in service to the village of Baldwinsville. In addition to his commitment through local politics, in 1973, Dick was a co-founder of the Baldwinsville Booster Basketball Association. For 30 years, he went on to coach basketball at various levels including six years as the varsity boys coach at Baker High School. In addition, Dick and his wife Linda, also a Baldwinsville graduate, have continued to be active alumni on their reunions committee.
Throughout his personal and professional life, Dick reports that his best career/life move was made in 1985, when he married his wife Linda. He instantly became a father to her three teenage boys: Steve (Sabrina), Jim (Christie) and Ed (Robin) McIlroy, who have all grown into very successful men and fathers themselves, giving Dick and Linda seven grandchildren.
Besides spending his free time with Linda, sons and grandchildren, Dick is an avid Yankees, Syracuse University and Cleveland Browns fan. Dick considers speaking at the Memorial Day event one of the highlights of his career.
Grand Marshal: Jeremy Boltus
In the spirit of honoring men and women of this community who faithfully served in our country’s armed forces, the Baldwinsville Memorial Day Parade Committee has named Jeremy Boltus as Grand Marshal for the 2022 Memorial Day Parade.
Jeremy was born and raised in Baldwinsville, graduating from Baker High School in 2007. He received a congressional nomination to attend the United States Military Academy. During his time at West Point, Jeremy played lacrosse, becoming the third-highest ranked individual for all-time points for Army. He finished his lacrosse career as a First Team All-American at the attack position. He continued to play lacrosse at the professional level for an additional seven years, when his Army commitment would allow it.
Jeremy graduated from West Point in 2011 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army. Once commissioned, he served as a fire support officer, platoon leader and executive officer for the 2-77 Field Artillery out of 41D, Fort Carson, Colorado. During his time with the 41D, Jeremy deployed to Kandahar, Afghanistan, to support Operation Enduring Freedom in 2014.
Following a successful deployment, he received a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) order to Fort Drum to serve on the division staff of the 10th Mountain Division Artillery. Jeremy served in the United States Army for seven years, receiving an honorable discharge at the end of his service.
Following his Army career, Jeremy returned to the central New York area where he has been employed by Lockheed Martin for the past five years. He currently lives in the Syracuse area with his wife Stephanie and their two dogs, Griffin and Gemma. Outside of work, Jeremy enjoys hiking with his wife and dogs and has continued to share his love of lacrosse through coaching at Christian Brothers Academy.
Student speakers
In addition to appointing the president and grand marshal, the Baldwinsville Memorial Day Parade Committee has selected three student speakers:
- Ava Graham will be reading “In Flanders Fields,” which was written during World War I by Canadian physician Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae. Ava, a basketball and lacrosse player, will be attending the University of Indianapolis to play Division II lacrosse and major in history/pre-law. In her free time she enjoys woodworking. Ava is honored to do this reading as a salute to those who have fallen while protecting America’s freedoms.
- Leonardo Vona will be reading Logan’s Orders. Leonardo, who has an interest in the field of accounting, plays hockey outside of school and is on the school tennis team. In his free time, he enjoys biking. To him, Memorial Day is an opportunity to show respect for our soldiers’ decisions to serve and honor our country.
- Andrew Secor will be reciting the Gettysburg Address. Andrew has an interest in science and understanding animals in their habitats. In his free time, he enjoys playing sports and video games. He feels Memorial Day is important because it allows us to mourn and show appreciation for those that have sacrificed and given their lives for America.
