Northwest Corner towns observe Memorial Day with parades, picnics and prayers. An abbreviated list of services to be held in the six area towns are listed below; in case of rain, most towns hold their services at their public elementary school.
Town of Canaan
(Falls Village)
The parade forms at the Lee H. Kellogg School at 9:30 a.m. The parade begins at 9:45 a.m. and marches to the Green, where the ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Tom Gailes, a 20-year Navy veteran, is the speaker.
Afterward, there will be cookies and punch at the firehouse.
Cornwall
At 9 a.m. there is a Commemorative Service at the North Cornwall Cemetery. At 10 a.m. there is a Navy memorial observance at the Covered Bridge in West Cornwall.
The parade, ceremony and carnival will be held on the Village Green, beginning at 11a.m.
Kent
The parade will organize at Kent Center School at 9 a.m. and step off at 9:30 a.m. Any veterans who would like to march or ride in the parade are welcome.
The parade will start on School Street and will turn right onto Route 341 and enter St. Andrew’s Cemetery through the west gate. The Rev. Roger White of St. Andrew’s Church will offer a prayer, followed by a 21-gun salute with taps.
The parade will turn left on Route 341, head east across Route 7 and stop in front of the Veteran’s Memorial on Veterans Way. Only the Honor Guard and veterans will continue to the Veterans Memorial; World War II veteran Robert Bauer will place a wreath at the monument and the Rev. Lee Hellwig of Sacred Heart will offer a prayer, followed by a 21-gun salute with taps.
The Honor Guard and veterans will meet up with the rest of the parade at the Civil War Monument, where a Kent Center School student will recite the Gettysburg Address. The Rev. David McIntosh of St. Andrew’s Church will offer a prayer, followed by a 21-gun salute with taps.
The parade will continue north on Route 7 and stop in front of the Kent Memorial Library. World War II Veteran John Osborne Jr.,will place a wreath at the monument and the names of deceased Kent veterans from all the wars who died of injuries received in combat will be read by First Selectman Bruce Adams. The Rev. Melinda Keck of the First Congregational Church will offer a prayer, followed by a 21-gun salute with taps.
The parade will continue north on Route 7 with the last stop at the Kent Congregational Cemetery. The Rev. Melinda Keck will offer a prayer, followed by a 21-gun salute with taps.
American Legion Hall-Jennings Post 153 will provide ice cream for children, and the Kent Lions Club will provide other refreshments in front of the Kent Community House. The Kent Lions Club will also provide a bus that will return anyone needing a ride back to Kent Center School.
Weather permitting, the Massachusetts National Guard has committed to a flyover this year.
The Kent Land Trust will host a picnic from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with food and live music at the land trust field, south of the monument.
North Canaan
The parade will leave Town Hall and go to the Doughboy Memorial at 10: 30 a.m. The memorial service at the Doughboy will begin at 11 a.m.
Salisbury
The lineup for the Salisbury Memorial Day parade is at 9:30 a.m. in front of the Scoville Memorial Library. The parade will begin at 10 a.m.
All veterans, whether they have a uniform or not, are welcome to participate. Anyone who would like to volunteer to drive a veteran in the parade and any veterans who need a ride should call the town clerk’s office at 860-435-5182 to make arrangements. Veterans interested in participating in the various cemetery salutes should meet at Town Hall at 6 a.m.
Sharon
All marchers will form up behind Sharon Center School and in front of the Auto Sport garage at 9:30 a.m.
The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and proceed down Main Street to the Veterans Memorial.
All organizations are welcome to march. Antique vehicles are also welcome.
Prizes will be awarded for the best decorated boy’s and girl’s bicycles.
The speaker this year will be former U.S. Senator and federal Judge James Buckley.
In case of rain the ceremonies will be held inside the Sharon Center School auditorium.
For more information or questions, call Robert Loucks at 860-364-5814.
The Sharon Historical Society will host a free picnic on the grounds of the museum immediately following the conclusion of the Memorial Day ceremonies at the memorial in town. The picnic begins at approximately 11:30 a.m. There will be hot dogs, lemonade and cake. Guests are invited to bring their own picnic food as well.
For a listing of parades in nearby New York state, see The Millerton News or go online to www.tricornernews.com/memorialday2015.
