by Bea Peterson
In Hoosick Falls during the last few weeks there has been a Village cleanup, and flags have been placed on the light poles. New stairs have been put on the gazebo in Wood Park and flower buckets have been filled along the streets. Flags have been placed on the graves of all the veterans buried in Hoosick Falls. Many of those veterans will soon have their names cast in bronze for plaques to be placed on the new Memorial Wall in Wood Park. The names on paper were placed on the Wall for Memorial Day for folks to review for the last time for changes and corrections.
At 8 am Monday the American Legion lowered the flags in Wood Park, replaced them with new flags, then raised them and lowered them to half staff in remembrance. Next, with the HFCS band, they went to the Shop Bridge where a wreath was cast into the water in memory of those lost at sea. Then, back to Wood Park where wreaths were placed in front of the war memorials by the Auxiliaries.
The Memorial Day parade began at 10 am, with politicians, fire companies, youth organizations, churches, civic organizations and bands, all marching to honor those who sacrificed so much for their family, their friends, their Town and their Country. Grand Marshal Dan Parker was one of 156,000 soldiers who landed in Normandy in June 1944. Guest speaker Dennis Flynn served as a staff sergeant in the US Army, Army Reserve and the Army National Guard. He served two tours of duty in Vietnam as a helicopter crew chief with the 101st Airborne Division and in support of Army Special Forces. Congressman Chris Gibson and Rensselaer County District Attorney Rich McNally
were among the marchers.
In the Park, following the parade, a crowd heard words from parade organizer Don Bogardus, Congressman Gibson, DA McNally, Hoosick Town Supervisor Keith Cipperly, Rensselaer County Legislators Stan Brownell and Lester Goodermote, Legion and Auxiliary members and Sgt. Flynn interspersed with music from the Taconic Pipe Band, the Hoosick Falls Community Band and the Hoosick Falls Central School Band.
In the Park there were friends meeting friends, foods to munch, remarks to remind everyone of the purpose of the day and an air of community surrounding the entire event.
