CAZENOVIA — Last week, Cazenovia American Legion Post 88 announced that the annual Cazenovia Memorial Day Parade and Observance is scheduled for Monday, May 31, at Memorial Park on Albany Street.
The ceremonies will honor all those who have given their lives in service to the United States of America.
The parade, led by Post 88’s color guard, will step off at 10:30 a.m. from Emory Ave and Forman St in front of the High School. Participants will start lining up at 10 a.m.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, parade participation will be limited and by invitation only.
All veterans are encouraged to participate; a limited number of vehicles will be available for veterans who need to ride in the parade.
The parade will rest at 11 a.m. in Memorial Park, where American Legion Post 88 Commander Gene Gissin will serve as master of ceremonies.
The guest speaker will be Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Hamm.
Hamm is the director of operations of the 138th Attack Squadron, Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, NY.
He received his commission through the Reserve Officer Training Course at Boston University in 2003.
Hamm completed joint specialized undergraduate navigator training at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. He has flown 300 combat hours as a B-52H navigator in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, and over 1,100 combat hours as a MQ-9 pilot in support of multiple operations.
After transitioning to the New York Air National Guard, Hamm continues to lead combat air guardsmen in support of national security objectives through operations throughout the world.
The colonel lives in Cazenovia with his wife, Moira, and their family.
Hamm is also scoutmaster of Troop 18, Scouting USA, in Cazenovia.
Following Hamm’s presentation, the names of local veterans who passed away in 2020 and 2021 will be read, the bell will toll, a wreath will be laid, a rifle salute will be performed, and “Taps” will be played.
The ceremony will conclude with the national anthem.
The parade will then resume and return to its starting point.
Post 88 will also hold a memorial service at noon at the Garden of Honor in front of the post’s home at 26 Chenango St.
The service will honor veterans buried in all of the community’s cemeteries. The public is invited to attend.
The Garden of Honor is paved with named bricks to honor individuals, living and dead, who have served the US and its military.
Some of the people honored in the garden served as long ago as the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.
Graveside flags for deceased veterans will be available at no cost to families at the Cazenovia Town Office and the Cazenovia Village Office.
Post 88 will place graveside flags at St James Cemetery.
Legion and auxiliary members will offer the traditional poppies along the parade route on Monday.
Kinney Drugs, Buyea’s True Value, and Tops Market will support the poppy drive on Saturday, May 29. Tops will support the cause again on Sunday, May 30.
Individuals interested in participating in the New Woodstock Memorial Day ceremony should meet at the Cazenovia post on Chenango Street at 7:30 a.m. for coffee and coordination.
The New Woodstock American Legion Post 1572 also announced it will host a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 31 at 8:30 a.m. to honor all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation. The ceremony will take place at the monument in front of the New Woodstock Cemetery on Main Street.
During the ceremony, the long history of service to the community by the New Woodstock Legion Post will also be recognized.
After three quarters of a century of active service to the area, the post’s colors will be folded in 2021 due to declining numbers of available veterans to carry out its programs.
Members and friends of the post are invited to participate in the ceremony. Local veterans will continue to work with other area legion posts and civic organizations to carry on many of the efforts of Post 1572.
