Burlington Flats/West Burlington

Memorial Day activities in Burlington Flats and West Burlington this year are being dedicated in memory of Army Cpl. Michael L. Mayne, 21, son of Lee and Cathy Mayne of Burlington Flats, who died Monday, Feb. 23, from injuries sustained in Iraq.

A parade will form at 1 p.m. Monday on Route 51 and step off at 1:30 p.m., where it will proceed south on Route 51, turning onto Arnold Road, and end at the intersection of South Road for a ceremony in Memorial Park.

The order of ceremony will be as follows: introduction of ceremonies, Pastor Jay Henderson; master of ceremonies, Sen. James Seward; invocation, Associate Sandy Shear; Pledge of Allegiance; Gold Star Mothers representative, Cathy Mayne; “Star-Spangled Banner,” Edmeston Central School Marching Band; the poem “In Flanders Fields” will be recited by Emily Arnold and Caprice Kellogg; Words of Remembrance, J. B. Harbison; the Gettysburg Address, Collin Slattery; senior address, Emily Bliss; raising of the service flags, local military color guard; dedication prayer for veterans, Pastor Doug Besemer; taps, Edmeston Central School Marching Band.

The order of march will be: New York state troopers, Otsego County Sheriff’s Department, Color Guard, veterans, honorary officials, Edmeston Central School Marching Band under the direction of Danielle Duquette, Edmeston Fire Department and Emergency Squad, Hartwick Fire Company No. 1, West Exeter Fire Company, Garrattsville Fire Company, Schuyler Lake Fire Company; First Baptist Church of Burlington Flats floats by Awana and Great Beginnings pre-school; Troop 9 Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Girls Club; bicycle riders, bagpipers, fire trucks from West Edmeston, Unadilla Forks and Leonardsville Fire Departments; antique cars, motorcycles, tractors, horses and wagons.

Deb Wengert and Todd Hovick organized this year’s program with assistance from the Town of Burlington Veterans Memorial Committee.



Cherry Valley

Whiteman-Hull Snyder Post 1360 in Cherry Valley will sponsor this year’s Memorial Day parade and services on Monday.

The parade will form at the library on Main Street at 9:30 a.m. and move out at 10 a.m. to the cemetery on Alden Street for services. Local clergy will participate. All organizations are invited to march.

Members of the Legion are asked to meet at the cemetery at 5 p.m. Saturday to set out American flags.

Call Commander Alan Grover at 264-8094 for more information.



Cooperstown

Cooperstown’s Memorial Day Parade will step off Monday at 11 a.m. on Main Street in front of the Veterans Club. Led by a color guard of VFW and American Legion veterans, marchers will proceed to the Soldiers and Sailors monument in front of the Otsego County Courthouse. A ceremony will follow at the monument. Guest speaker this year will be Cooperstown attorney and Assistant Otsego County District Attorney Paul Elkan, USMC Capt., Ret.

The Soldiers and Sailors monument was originally dedicated Sept. 16, 1916, and was a gift to Otsego County from Edward S. Clark. The monument has undergone an extensive restoration process. The work was completed last year by William Parsons and funded with contributions by Jane Clark and the combined resources of VFW Post 7128 and American Legion Post 0579.



West Edmeston/Edmeston

There will be Memorial Day parades on Monday in West Edmeston at 9 a.m. and Edmeston at 11 a.m. led by members of the Wharton Valley American Legion Post 1311 Color Guard. Music will be provided by the high school band. The day’s guest speaker will be retiring Lt. Col. Donna Dorminey of the U.S. Army, a graduate of Edmeston Central School. After the 11 a.m. parade and program in front of the school, there will be a chicken barbecue sponsored by the Edmeston Rotary at the four corners in Edmeston. Groups, individuals and vehicles are welcome to join the parade. In the event of rain, the program will be moved indoors to the school gymnasium. In the event of hard rain, the parades will be canceled.

Members of Wharton Valley American Legion Post 1311 Color Guard will also participate in the Memorial Day parade at 1:30 p.m. in Burlington Flats.

For information, call Ron Martin at 965-8109 or David Green, 965-9930.



Gilbertsville

Gilbertsville Memorial Day activities will start Monday with a parade, which steps off from the school on Grove Street at 9 a.m. It will proceed up Grove Street to Bloom Street, turn left and stop at the Soldiers Monument. Boy Scouts will raise the flag, leaving it at half-mast, and the band will play the national anthem. The parade will continue up Commercial Street, turn right on Marion Avenue (Route 51) and go via Cemetery Road to the Soldiers Plot at Brookside Cemetery. The Gilbertsville-Mount Upton school band may play selections of choice as far as Cemetery Road. The order of events at the cemetery will be: ``America the Beautiful’’; invocation by the Rev. Randolph Palada, of the Gilbertsville Baptist Church; prayer by the Post Chaplain Al McCarthy; General Logan’s Orders, read by Joe Acanfora, the Timothy Sloan Boys State representative; and the Gettysburg Address, recited by Jackie Schaub, Girls State representative. The harmonica band the Harptones will perform next.

Guest speaker will be G-MU School Superintendent Glenn Hamilton. The firing squad will salute the dead, followed by the playing of taps. The parade will regroup at the bridge over the Dunderburg and a service will commemorate the naval dead lost at sea. The Rev. Joe Acanfora, Christ Episcopal Church, will give the benediction.

The parade will then proceed down Commercial Street, to the Soldiers Monument, down Spring Street, left on Sylvan Street and disband at the school.

In the event of rain, all activities following the raising of the flag at the Soldiers Monument will take place inside the Grange Hall.



Hartwick

Hartwick will have its annual parade at 9 a.m. Monday, proceeding from West Main down to East Main Street. Parade participants will include contingents from the American Legion and Women’s Auxiliary Post 1567 and the Volunteer Hartwick Fire Companies No. 1 and No. 2 with the Hartwick Volunteer Emergency Squad. The Cooperstown High School Band will also march. The parade formation will start at 8:30 a.m. on Weeks Road. Antique cars are welcome.

There will be a ceremony following the parade in the Hartwick Cemetery on Wells Avenue, at which time American Legion Commander Robert Croft will speak.

At 1 p.m., Hartwick’s traditional chicken barbecue will be held at the American Legion and Veterans Club on Main Street for all to enjoy.



Laurens

A parade will form Monday at Craft Street at 9:30 a.m., starting its journey to the cemetery at 10 a.m. Master of ceremonies is Daniel Liddle. Parade marshal is Pat Grasso.

Susie Stepp will recite ``In Flanders Fields,’’ followed by Danny Liddle reciting the Gettysburg Address and “Proud to be an American” by Ashley Liddle. Taps will be played by Laurens Central School Band members. The band will also play “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Salute to Armed Forces.”

Laurens Town Supervisor Oscar Oberkircher will speak. Before the parade, marchers are invited to partake of a breakfast at the legion from 8 to 9:30 a.m.



Maryland-Schenevus

Memorial Day observances will begin at 9 a.m. Monday at the Maryland Cemetery with a flag-raising, placing of a wreath, prayer, rifle salute, taps and retreat.

Parade marshal is John Arnold. Participants include members of the Girl Scouts, Schenevus Memorial VFW Post 2752 and buglers from Schenevus Central School. At 9:45 a.m. at the school, ceremonies will include calls by buglers, placing of a wreath by members of the Boys Scouts and a prayer by Joseph Muehl from the VFW.

At 10 a.m., a parade will leave the school and continue to Schenevus Cemetery, where another ceremony will be held. Invocation and benediction will given by the Rev. Rose Bellen, pastor at the Westville United Methodist Church.

The Memorial Day address will be given by David Hooker, Lt. Col., NY Navy Militia (Major, USMCR retired).

In case of rain, the program will be held in the school at 10 a.m.



Milford

The Milford American Legion has organized its annual Memorial Day parade for Monday. Participants may begin to gather at the school parking area and along West Main Street between 9 and 9:30 a.m. for a parade that will step off at 10 a.m. and follow along West Main Street to Division Street, then north on Main Street from the post office to Milford Cemetery.

There will be an open, public memorial ceremony at the cemetery. Peter Livshin, Milford Central School superintendent, is the scheduled guest speaker. Mary Lou Platt, Department of New York American Legion Auxiliary past president, will recite “In Flanders Fields,” and Margaret Gray, president of the Milford Unit 1566 American Legion Auxiliary, will recite the response poem, “In Flanders Now.”

After the ceremony, refreshments for participants will be served in the Milford American Legion Hall on West Main Street. Contingents including antique cars, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, school groups and any other Milford area organizations are invited to march in the parade.

Ceremonies will be in the school gym in the event of rain. For more information, call Pat Lord, 286-9261.



Morris

The annual Memorial Day observance in Morris will start at 10 a.m. Monday with a parade from the Town House on West Main Street to the Veterans Monument in Hillington Cemetery. Master of ceremonies will be Butternut Valley American Legion Post 1135 Auxiliary Finance Officer, Janice Alger.

The parade, under the leadership of Legionnaire and parade marshal Lynn Joy, will form in the school parking lot, departing at 9:30 a.m. for the Town House with the American Legion Post color guard leading the marchers, followed by the American Legion Auxiliary, the Morris Central School Marching Band, Morris Fire Department and Emergency Squad vehicles and other certified community organizations.

The invocation and benediction will given by the Rev. Sarah Baron, pastor of the Morris United Methodist church. Father John Burns of Holy Cross Catholic Church will lead the group in prayer.

The Gettysburg Address will be recited by Emily LeBouffe, eighth-grader from Morris Central School.

Guest speaker will be Michael Virgil, retiring superintendent of Morris Central School.

The national anthem and additional band music will be played by the Morris Central School Band under the direction of Douglas Ernst. A memorial wreath will be placed on the Veterans Monument by a Boy Scout and Girl Scout.

In case of rain, the program will be in Morris Central School.

Legion Commander is Robert Klindt.



Oneonta

The 2009 Oneonta Memorial Day parade and ceremony will begin Monday with a parade at 10 a.m., followed by ceremonies at the Neahwa Park Memorial. Guest speaker will be Ernie Thompson, past commander of the Oneonta Disabled American Veterans Chapter No. 200. Mayor John Nader will also speak.

Parade chairman Lester Grummons will serve as master of ceremonies.

Officer of the Day will be Oneonta American Legion Post 259 Commander Ben Eldred, who will make introductions and address the significance of the day. The Rev. Kenneth Baldwin, WWII veteran, will serve as Chaplain of the Day and will give the invocation and benediction.

Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address will be recited by the OHS salutatorian. There will be a presentation of wreaths and salute to the dead. All units will be called to attention, present arms, and the firing squad will fire three volleys, as they salute. Taps will be played by the Oneonta Middle School Band. The national anthem will be sung by Denise Michaelson, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, directed by Eldred.

Participants in the parade are requested to form at 9 a.m. at Neahwa Park, as the parade will leave the park at 10 a.m. Members of the Oneonta American Legion Riders will signify the beginning of the parade with a ride-through. The scheduled lineup is as follows:

DIVISION ONE:

Oneonta Police Department

Color Guard _ Oneonta Vets Club

Piper _ Harry Nichols – Edward P. Maloney Memorial Pipe Band

Mayor John Nader

Members of the Oneonta Veterans Club including:

• American Legion Post 259

• Disabled American Veterans 200

• Sons of American Legion Squadron 259

• VFW Post 1206 and Auxiliary

• Vietnam Veterans of America 85

Oneonta Middle School Band

Wreath bearers

American Legion Riders Post 259

Cars containing dignitaries:

• Gold Star Mothers

• Daughters of American Revolution

• American Legion Post 259 Auxiliary and members

• DAV Chapter 200 Auxiliary and members

• VFW Post 1206 Auxiliary and members

• Vietnam Veterans and Auxiliary and members

• Former Oneonta mayors

• Miss Otsego County

DIVISION TWO:

New York State Police vehicle

Broome County Celtic Pipers & Drums

Brownie Scouts (Troops 21 and 214)

Daisy Girl Scouts

Boy Scouts of America (Troops 23, 27 and 548)

Cub Scouts (Troops 27 and 91)

Lighthouse Christian Academy

Oneonta Community Christian School

Oneonta Elks Club

Oneonta Kiwanis Club

Oneonta Rotary Club

Oneonta Job Corps

Oneonta Little League

American Red Cross

Salvation Army

DIVISION THREE:

Otsego County Sheriff’s Department vehicle

New York State Army National Guard Colors

New York State Army National Guard members

Oneonta Middle School Band

Oneonta Fire Department vehicle

West Oneonta Fire Department vehicle

Bicycles

Reminiscers Antique Car Club vehicle

Miscellaneous late arrivals

Horses and other animals

Ceremonies will be followed by an open house at the American Legion Post on Chestnut Street.



Otego

A Memorial Day parade sponsored by Otego American Legion Post 1555 will form at 8 a.m. at Legion Field and begin at 8:30 a.m. The Unatego Junior-Senior High School band will provide music. All veterans are encouraged to turn out. Antique vehicles will provide transportation for any veterans who wish to ride. The parade route will be south on Willow to Main, left on Main to River, right on River to Follette Street, right on Follette to Church Street, right on Church to Main Street, right on Main to Willow, left on Willow to the Legion grounds for a brief ceremony at about 9 a.m.

The program will feature an address by state Assemblyman Peter D. Lopez. The invocation and benediction will be given by the Rev. Fred Albrecht, retired United Methodist pastor, of Otego. Legion Commander Roger Harkness will be the parade starter and will give the commander’s address and placement of wreath. Mayor Ernest Kroll will be the master of ceremonies and parade marshal.

An open house will follow the ceremony at the post. Community residents are encouraged to attend.



Richfield Springs

A parade at Schuyler Lake will begin at 9:30 a.m., Monday with memorial services after the parade. The parade at Richfield Springs will begin at 10:30 a.m. proceeding down Main Street to Memorial Park.

Hot dogs and drinks will be served by members of the Richfield Vets Club at 11:30 a.m. for children who participated in the parade. The traditional chicken barbecue will be offered from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or until chicken is gone at the Veterans Club. It is sponsored by the Hugick, Purcell and Shepard American Legion Post No. 616, Charles West, commander.



Unadilla

The hometown Memorial Day parade in Unadilla, under the direction of the Unadilla American Legion Joyce Bell Post 578, will start at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Community House.

Guest speaker will be the Albert Clune, Unadilla town justice and a lawyer. Immediately after services, a parade will form and proceed up Main Street to St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, where a memorial service to departed veterans will be held.

The parade will then reform and march down Main Street, then down to the bridge on the I-88 access road, where a memorial to veterans who died at sea will be held. The parade will proceed to Evergreen Cemetery for the final memorial service.

The Unatego Junior-Senior High School band will provide the music. Also taking part will be members of the American Legion, American Legion Auxiliary, Unadilla Fire Department and Auxiliary, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies.

Other organizations wishing to participate may call 369-9287 after 5 p.m. All veterans are urged to join in the ceremonies and parade.

In case of rain, services will be held inside the Unadilla Elementary School.



Sand Hill

The Unadilla American Legion will conduct Memorial Day service at Sand Hill Church on Sunday starting at 9:30 a.m. Church services will be held and then the American Legion members will conduct memorial services in the Sand Hill Cemetery.



Worcester

Participants in the Memorial Day program in Worcester on Monday are asked to assemble at Worcester Central School at 9:30 a.m. The parade will commence at 10 a.m. Parade marshal is Joe Kenyon.

Services will take place in Maple Grove Cemetery. The program will include a salute to the colors and raising of the flag by a bugler from WCS; invocation by the Rev. Judy Thistle; the national anthem performed by the WCS Band and Andrew Odell; prayer by the Worcester Fire Department Chaplain Norman Chase; and wreath placement for veterans by members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, East Worcester Fire Department and Worcester Fire Department.

Other features include selected readings and music, rifle salute by the Worcester American Legion Rifle Squad, taps and echo by WCS buglers, retreat and lowering of the colors by a WCS bugler and the benediction by the Rev. Judy Thistle.

Parade participants will then regroup and return to the school via Decatur Street to Main Street.

In the event of inclement weather, the program will be in the WCS gym.