By MATT LINDSEY

Memorial Day celebrations and parades will be held by veteran’s organizations throughout St. Lawrence County on Monday, May 25, to honor the memory of soldiers who have lost their lives in services to the United State.

Observances in St. Lawrence County include:

Potsdam

The Potsdam VFW will again host the annual Memorial Day parade and invitations have been sent out to local fire department, the Potsdam fire and police departments, rescue squad and Boy and Girls Scouts organizations.

The Potsdam Central high school band will entertain during the parade and other St. Lawrence County school bands are expected to participate as well.

“We expect a good turnout…lets just hope for the weather to cooperate,” said VFW representative Bob Crary.

Parade participants should meet at the Potsdam high school parking lot to line up by 8:30 a.m. The parade is set to begin at 9 a.m.

The parade follows the traditional route from Leroy to Cottage Street and then turning left onto Main Street where it continues to Ives Park, behind the Clarkson University Inn.

The final 21-gun salute and guest speaker at Ives Park.

Following the parade and ceremony, a free barbeque will be held at the Potsdam VFW, 95 Market St., beginning around 11:30 a.m. and lasting throughout the afternoon. There will be grilled food, salads and more provided by the ladies auxiliary. Anyone is welcome to attend the barbeque.

VFW members will place new clads on veteran’s graves beginning at 8 a.m. on Saturday, May 23. The laying of wreaths and 21-gun salute honors at local cemeteries are planned for Sunday, May 24. Anyone wishing to attend either event should meet at the VFW at 8 a.m. Info: Bob at 261-4579.

Massena

In Massena Memorial Day kicks off with a 10 a.m. parade beginning at Sacred Heart Church on Main Street. The march will end at Veteran’s Park on Andrews Street. Line-up time is 9:30 a.m. in the church parking lot.

The parade is expected to include live music from Massena school bands, local singing groups, veterans and more.

There will be a wreath dedication, rifle salute and guest speakers at the park following the parade.

Buffets will follow at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post on East Hatfield Street, the American Legion on East Orvis Street and the Massena AmVets Post, Andrews Street.

Canton

Continuing its annual tradition, the Edward C. Seymour VFW Post 1231 in Canton will hold its Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m.

All participating individuals and organizations should be at the Army reserve center on West Main Street at 9:30 a.m. to line up.

For any veterans who wish to participate but cannot walk the parade route, a ride will be provided. Call the club at 386-8953 for information.

The event includes a wreath release in the Grasse River over the Main Street Bridge. Remarks will follow in the park and then the honor guard will proceeds to Fairview Cemetery where a volley will be fired and taps played in honor of Everett A. Quackenbush, a deceased Korean War Navy veteran.

Besides veterans, all law enforcement officers will be honored.

At the conclusion of the day’s events, refreshments will be served at the post, 34 Gouverneur St.

Ogdensburg

Ogdensburg’s Memorial Day ceremony begins with a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Wall Monument at 9 a.m. The monument is located near United Helpers. At 10 a.m. a parade will begin at Ogdensburg Public Library. School bands, veterans and law enforcement have been invited to join in the parade. The route will cover State Street to the Ogdensburg Cemetery, where a ceremony will take place with members of local veterans groups.

Readings, speakers and a benediction are all expected.

At 11 a.m. soup and sandwiches will be served at AmVets Post 19.

Norwood

The 96th Memorial Day Parade will begin at 11 a.m. with a parade. Preceding the parade at 10:30 a.m., a float will be available for elderly veterans and those unable to walk.

The rifle team will march to the Spring Street Bridge and offer prayers, a salute and a wreath in the water. The parade then proceeds to the park and through Norwood along with local fire departments from Norwood, Norfolk, Potsdam, West Potsdam showing their support.

The Norwood-Norfolk high school band will perform. The Norwood Brass Firemen will play several selections. As the flag is lowered and raised in honor and memory of the nations veterans, taps and a 21-gun salute will be presented.

After the parade, the Norwood American Legion will host a luncheon offering hamburgers, hotdogs and cold salads.

Morristown

Morristown will host a Memorial Day ceremony for veterans at Chapman Park at 10 a.m. The event will feature local speakers including the mayor and town supervisor.

There will also be a reading of a patriotic poem. Morristown Central School band will play and students will sing songs. Two local World War II veterans and an Iraq war veteran will be in attendance during the day’s event.

A wreath ceremony will follow at Bayside Park where veterans will honor soldiers who were lost at sea.

Refreshments and live music from the school band will follow at Morristown’s fire hall.

Colton

The Colton Memorial Day Parade will begin at Colton-Pierrepont Central School at 10 a.m.

The parade will travel to St. Patrick’s and Pleasant Mound cemeteries with a gun sale at each cemetery.

Parade goes will meet in South Colton at the post office at 11:30 a.m. for a salute at the cemetery in South Colton. The parade ends at the fire station.

The Colton AmVets are expected to lay a wreath at the base of the memorial in front of the Colton Library in honor of lost veterans.

Parade participants expected to join in the parade include fire departments from Colton and Pierrepont, the marching band from Colton-Pierrepont, local veterans and local cub scout troops.

Tri-Town

The Winthrop American Legion will host Memorial Day services throughout the Tri-Town area.

Service will begin at the Winthrop Cemetery at 9 a.m. followed by services at the Fairview Cemetery in Brasher Falls at 9:20 a.m., the Veteran’s Park in Lawrenceville at 10 a.m., the St. Lawrence Cemetery at 10:20 a.m., and St. Patrick’s Cemetery at 11 a.m.

Services will also be held at the LBSH Senior Housing at 11:30 a.m., the Brasher Falls Main Street Bridge at noon and at the American Legion Post 514, 75 State Highway 11C at 12:30 p.m.

All times are approximate.

The Comrades from Canada and the South Glengary Pipes and Drums will participate at all of the ceremonies.

For those that have a loved one that rests in one of these cemeteries that is not on the roster, call the legion at 389-9102 and leave a message with their name, rank, branch of service, era and cemetery.

Free grave marker flags are available at the American Legion.

Waddington

A Memorial Day parade will be held in Waddington at 10 a.m. It will travel up Main Street and across Route 37 where it will be followed by a ceremony and salute to fallen soldiers at Memorial Park. Local veterans, scouts and firefighters will be participating in the parade.

Hermon

There will be a Memorial Day parade on May 26 starting at the Hermon Post Office at 10:30 a.m. that runs through downtown Hermon.

There will be a luncheon at the Hermon fire station following the parade and any ceremonies. The lunch starts around 11 a.m. All food will be provided by the Hermon Volunteer Fire Department. Donations will be accepted.