Cassadaga village holds Memorial Day service
CASSADAGA — The Village of Cassadaga held the annual Memorial Day service. Memorial Day was established following the Civil War in 1868 by General John A. Logan’s General Order No. 11. At that time, the date had been set at May 30th, and was a time to remember those veterans who fought in the Civil War by decorating the graves with flowers. Every cemetery in all cities, towns, villages or hamlets were to take part. The remembrance day continues with the special day now being the last Monday in May.
The Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280, with the direction of post commander Dennis Stephens, had a special ceremony composed for the day. Members of the honor guard began their morning at 6 a.m., by visiting 10 area cemeteries providing a special memorial ceremony, and then concluding at the Cassadaga Cemetery.
The parade began at the Ames Common, located at the corner of Main Street and Maple Avenue in the village, with an opening ceremony. Robert Connelly gave the opening prayer, followed by a placing of the wreath at the flagpole, a 21-gun salute and the National Anthem by the Cassadaga Valley Central School Band Cougar Cadets.
In the parade were many organizations and groups. The Honor Guard led the parade, followed by veterans in cars and old military Jeeps, the Boy Scout and Cub Scout group, the Cassadaga village board members, the Cassadaga Valley Central School Band, go-cart driven by Cole and Kaytlyn Fredereksen from Victor and grandchildren of Cassadaga residents Bill and Deb Ulrich, Chautauqua County Clerk Larry Barmore, Town of Stockton Supervisor David Wilson, the Sinclairville 76ers meals on wheels delivery vans, a riding horse and a horse drawn cart, equipment from the Cassadaga Volunteer Fire Department, fire equipment and marchers from the Stockton Volunteer Fire Department. Next up was a marching unit and fire equipment from the Lily Dale Fire Department, fire equipment from the Gerry Fire Department and Sinclairville Fire Department, a small pony led by the owners and the Valley Historical Society.
Cassadaga Village Historian John Sipos served as the Grand Parade Marshall.
The parade route was filled with onlookers who greeted all participants with a round of applause. The parade concluded at the Cassadaga Cemetery. The Memorial Day service was led by Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 Commander Dennis Stephens. Robert Connelly gave an invocation and Cassadaga Mayor Mary Jo Bauer gave the history of Memorial Day. Town of Stockton Supervisor Wilson gave some opening remarks, followed by the reading of the Gettysburg Address, Logan’s Order decree, and the Flanders Field poem. The Cassadaga Valley School Band Cougar Cadets then played.
Guest speaker for the day was Dr. Jim Holton of Cassadaga, who serves in many village capacities including the Citizens for a Better Cassadaga. Dr. Holton is a retired educator, who had served in the United States Marines. Dr. Holton spoke on remembering the part that the Village of Cassadaga played in all wars faithfully to honor and support our veterans. Dr. Holton spoke of some of the many group activities which are a part of the Memorial Day ceremonies, and said that at all Legion meetings, a table has been set for those missing in action. Dr. Holton spoke of how Cassadaga can remember the veterans in the future by attending a parade with your children, flying the flag to show respect, and explain the meaning of Memorial Day to the children. Dr. Holton concluded his ten-minute speech with “to all of you standing here today, whether as a resident, visitor or friend, to remember that Cassadaga has certainly done its part in all of our nation’s wars.”
The wreath was placed at the Veterans’ Circle, then a 21-gun salute to our fallen veterans led by James Hayward, raising the American Flag from half staff valiantly to full staff by Bruce Kaus, Ranee Kaus and Mike Hayward. Taps were played on the bugle, and the closing invocation was given by Chaplain Robert Connelly. Photographs of the ceremony were taken by Cassadaga Village Historian John Sipos for historical records.
All were welcomed to the Legion Hall for refreshments provided by the Cassadaga Shur-Fine grocery store.
Let us all remember those veterans on Memorial Day and everyday.
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