On Memorial Day Monday, the Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 Honor Guard held a military service at 12 cemeteries. Shown here is the Honor Guard at the Charlotte Center Cemetery.

CASSADAGA — Memorial Day Monday was a day to pay tribute to fallen veterans by the Honor Guard of the Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 in 12 local cemeteries.

Members of the Legion Honor Guard gathered at the Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 at 6 a.m., and left the Legion hall at 6:45 a.m. for the first cemetery. The 11 men rode on a bus provided by Whiskey Hill of Cassadaga and driven by Mark Coon. Appreciation is extended to Coon for driving the bus.

The first stop was at the Charlotte Center Cemetery at 7:15 a.m. and it was 57 degrees and raining. The men lined up in the cemetery, led by Past Legion Commander Rusty Jones. The ceremony included a prayer said first by Cassadaga Village and Town of Stockton Historian John Sipos, who served as the chaplain for the day, then there was a 21-gun salute, and followed by Ron Boyland playing taps on the bugle. Susan Washington Sipos took many photographs of the ceremonies. The group then moved to the next cemetery, and there was a thick fog. The round trip to all the cemeteries was 44 miles.

The second cemetery was the Burnhams Hollow cemetery, followed by the Christian Cemetery in Arkwright. The group then traveled to the Bachelor Hill Cemetery, which was the first cemetery for Cassadaga, then to Stockton to the Evergreen Cemetery and the Greenwood Cemetery.

From there, the group traveled to the Oregon Cemetery in Centralia, and to the Red Bird Corners Cemetery. The next stop was in Sinclairville, and the Honor Guard took part in the 102nd Memorial Day service led by Diman Smith, Vice Commander Detachment of New York Sons of the American Legion. The next stop was at the Pickett Corners Cemetery. From there, the group traveled to Lily Dale for a ceremony at their Memorial park, and concluded the tour with the ceremony and raising of the American Flag at the Cassadaga Village Park at the corner of Route 60 and Maple Avenue.

After a welcome by Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 Past Commander Rusty Jones, the 21-gun salute, the National Anthem played by the Cassadaga Valley Band, the Memorial wreath was placed at the base of the American Flag in the village park, the parade began. Historian Sipos served as the Parade Marshal. The American Legion Post 1280 Honor Guard led the parade, which was on Maple Avenue in the village.

There were many participants, including Korean War veteran Joe Mikula in a red convertible driven by Brad Blizzard, a convertible driven by Don Fowler, a World War II Jeep driven by Steve Lehnen, a convertible driven by Helen Runge, the Cassadaga Valley School Band, firetrucks from Cassadaga, Lily Dale, Sinclairville, and Stockton, the Cassadaga Little League Baseball team, trucks from Legend Escavating, John Deere tractors, a 1931 Ford sedan, and a horse and rider. By this time, the outside temperature had risen to nearly 70 degrees and it was sunny.

The parade concluded at the Cassadaga Cemetery with more than 200 people standing and watching the ceremony. The main theme of the program was “Let us always remember those who fought for our freedom that we have today.” Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 Past Commander Rusty Jones welcomed all to the service which included the Pledge to the American Flag written in 1892, reading of the In Flanders Field poem written at the end of World War I, reading of the President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address written in 1863, a message from Town of Stockton Supervisor David Wilson, and a message from Cassadaga Village Mayor Rudy Abersold.

Sons of American Legion Commander Blizzard gave a message, and Ranee Kaus, President of the American Legion 1280 Auxiliary gave a Memorial Day message.

Guest speaker Samantha Hayes, who has served with the US Coast Guard for 16 years, gave a message that Memorial Day is about people.

Following was the raising of the American Flag and the National Anthem played by the Cassadaga Valley School Band. Following the service, the 21-gun salute, and the Benediction, everyone was invited to the Cassadaga American Legion Hall where refreshments of hot dogs and soda were provided by the Cassadaga American Legion, and prepared and served by Ladies Auxiliary for all to enjoy.