OBSERVER Staff Report

A number of communities will be holding Memorial Day observances Monday. Here is a list of some of the planned events:

ANGOLA

A parade will lineup at the Angola Fire Department, 41 Commercial St. at 9:30 a.m. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. and will march to the Forest Avenue Cemetery, where services will be held.

BROCTON-PORTLAND

A ceremony honoring veterans is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Evergreen Cemetery in Portland. All are welcome. This year’s guest speaker is Betina Henderson, retired U.S. Air Force.

CASSADAGA

Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 has a full day planned for their Memorial Day activities, starting bright and early at 6 a.m. (this kicks off part one of the day) with a free breakfast at the Post for all participants, and to get ready for the ceremony. At 6:45 a.m., the bus departs for ceremonies at various locations throughout the Valley — Charlotte Center Ceremony, Burnham Hollow Corner Cemetery, Christian Cemetery on Bard/Shumla Road, Bachellor Hill Cemetery, Stockton Old Cemetery, Stockton Greenwood Cemetery, Centralia Union Cemetery, Red Bird Cemetery; Sinclairville Parade, 9 a.m.; Picketts Corner Cemetery, Lily Dale Memorial Service (Gun Salute/Return to Post upon completion). Part two begins at 11 a.m., when people gather for the parade to march/ride from the Legion to Ames Common. The parade will go from there to the Veterans Circle, Cassadaga Cemetery, where the speakers will be at noon. Raising the flag and a 21 gun salute will take place in front of the Legion at 12:30 p.m. Refreshments for all guests will take place in the Legion at 12:40 p.m.

CHERRY CREEK

On Monday, the Cherry Creek VFW invites all to join them on a short walk from the Cherry Creek Fire Hall, 6763 Main St. to the Cherry Creek Honor Circle, where a military service to honor veterans will take place at 10:30 a.m.

COLLINS CENTER

A parade will start at 9 a.m. sharp from the milk plant on Collins Center Zoar Road. The parade will travel to the Collins Center Cemetery on Route 39.

DUNKIRK

A Memorial Day service will be conducted by the Dunkirk Joint Veterans Council at Memorial Park at 10 a.m. The parade will follow from the park at 11 a.m. marching east on Lake Shore Drive to Central Avenue where it will move south along Central Avenue to the reviewing stand in front of City hall. The parade route will end at Washington Park.

FORESTVILLE

The annual Forestville Memorial parade and service will take place Monday, May 27 at 10 a.m. in downtown Forestville. Forestville American Legion Post 953, Little League teams, Girl Scouts, Forestville marching bands, the Forestville Fire Department and miscellaneous vehicles will participate in the parade. The parade will conclude at American Legion Post 953, 6 Cedar St. The service honors all veterans and members of the military, along with a traditional 21 gun salute. Doug Allen, singer for the Buffalo Sabres, will perform patriotic songs. Forestville Food Pantry will provide food and refreshments immediately following the service.

FREDONIA

Memorial Day services will be observed in Fredonia on Monday beginning at 10 a.m. at the American Legion Memorial Post 59, 156 E. Main St. Services conducted by the Legion after the 10 a.m. ceremony will also be held at the WCA Home, 134 Temple St., at 10:30 a.m.; Fredonia Place, 50 Howard St., at 11 a.m.; and the veterans’ monument in Barker Common in downtown Fredonia at 11:30 a.m. Breakfast will be served for Memorial Day participants by Boy Scout Troop 257 at the Legion Post from 9 to 10 a.m. The post will be open from noon to 6 p.m. after all the services and will be serving burgers and hot dogs. Veterans are especially welcome.

SHERIDAN

The town of Sheridan is holding its annual Memorial Day service and parade on Monday. Parade lineup will take place at about 11:45 a.m. in the parking lot of the Sheridan municipal complex, formerly the St. John Bosco church complex, on Route 20. The parade will start around noon and proceed on Route 20 to the Sheridan Center Cemetery on Center Road, where a memorial service will be held to honor deceased veterans. Afterward, the Sheridan Fire Department will hold its annual Chiavetta’s chicken barbecue and raffle fundraiser at the fire hall at 2800 Route 20.

SINCLAIRVILLE

Anyone interested in marching at this year’s parade needs to line up at Jamestown and Maple streets by 8:30 a.m. The parade will begin at 9 a.m. as it has for several decades, when the village started this tradition in 1924. Services will be held after the parade in the Evergreen Cemetery near the Soldiers Monument.

SOUTH DAYTON

The South Dayton American Legion and the Pine Valley VFW will host the Memorial Day parade starting at noon. The parade will line up at the old legion on Pine Street and travel to the village park, where a memorial ceremony will be held.

WESTFIELD

There is a lowering of the flag ceremony at 7:30 a.m. in Moore Park. A naval and maritime observance is set for 8 a.m. at the Dan Reed Pier in Barcelona. There will be a ceremony in St. James Cemetery at 8:30 a.m. and Union Cemetery will hold its ceremony at 9:15 a.m. A parade begins at 10:30 a.m.; assembly for the parade is at 10 a.m. in Moore Park. An 11 a.m. ceremony at the Academy Street Cemetery is followed at noon by a raising of the flag at Moore Park. Afterward, there will be open houses at the American Legion JW Rogers Post 327 at 7579 E. Main Road (Route 20) and the VFW Post 6764, corner of Pearl and Washington streets.