by Bea Peterson
The Hoosick Falls Memorial Day Parade had it all. There were the American Legion, politicians, flags galore, great bands, sharp looking fire companies, plenty of fire trucks, floats, fancy and antique cars, candy for the kids, boy scouts, girl scouts, 4-H’ers, dancers and horses The HFCS baseball team rode in a fancy carriage. The team is playing for the Section Championship on Thursday. Best of all, it was a nice long parade.
[private]It got off to a rocky start, however, when the Uncle Sam float broke down on Main Street just before turning onto John Street. It was the last unit in the first division of the Parade and all the other divisions had to walk around it to proceed. Fortunately, as the Parade was ending, repairs were made. So, the very last item in a grand parade was the Uncle Sam Chorus singing their patriotic songs, as they do every year.
Wreaths In Memory
Memorial Day was overcast and pleasantly warm. Events began at 8 am with the flag in Wood Park placed at half staff by the American Legion at the same time the Hoosick Falls Central School band played the National Anthem. A prayer remembering the fallen was said, and members of the Legion Auxiliary placed wreaths at the memorials. Volleys were fired, and Taps was sounded. Next, the Legion, Auxiliary and Band walked to the Shop Bridge where a prayer was said for those lost at sea and a wreath thrown into the river, followed by volleys and Taps.
Speeches
After the Parade folks gathered in Wood Park for the speeches. They heard Parade Grand Marshall Eugene Vogt, a veteran himself, speak warmly of his brother Raymond who served in World War II and received a Silver Star and a Purple Heart.
Principal Speaker William Ely, a Bronze Star recipient during Vietnam, spoke about his time there. He recalled being at the front and reading about US citizens burning the American flag and he didn’t know what to make of it. “It was no fun to be a soldier then,” he said. “But you do what you’re told.” He spoke of being a good soldier and following orders, grumbling that it was okay to destroy a farmer’s rubber trees in Vietnam, but it was not okay to destroy oil wells in other places. He heard about soldiers being spat on, and he recalled that when it was his job to return remains to families, they never spat on him. Ely retired from the Army after 21 years, serving from 1963 to 1984.
Many people at this year’s Parade were disturbed by public reprimands made by Parade officials and outspoken biased remarks by another community leader that took away from the importance of the day; a day reserved for remembering the men and women who have served their Country so valiantly throughout its history.
The ceremony concluded with another salute by the Honor Guard, Taps played by Nick Downing and the Community Band and HFCS Band together playing the National Anthem.
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