By MATT LINDSEY, JIMMY LAWTON & ANDY GARDNER

Veterans’ organizations are gearing up to celebrate Memorial Day Monday, May 26 and honor the memory of members of the U.S. armed forces who have lost their lives in service to the nation.

Services throughout St. Lawrence County are as follows:

Potsdam

The Potsdam VFW hosts the annual Memorial Day parade and the Potsdam fire and police departments, rescue squad and Boys Scouts are all expected to participate.

The high school band from Potsdam will entertain during the parade and invitations have been sent to several local schools for their marching bands to join.

“We hope people come out and support our local veterans…it should be a good time for all,” said VFW representative Bob Crary.

Parade participants should meet at the Potsdam high school parking lot to line up by 8:15 a.m. The parade is slated for a 9 a.m. start.

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

There will be a 21-gun salute and wreath dedication at Ives Park, with the wreath being lowered into the river to honor military veterans.

Following the parade and ceremony, a 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.

Canton

Edward C. Seymour VFW Post 1231 in Canton will present its annual Memorial Day Parade at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 26.

All participating individuals are asked to be at the Army Reserve center on West 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.

When the parade reaches the Main Street bridge a wreath will be released into the Grasse River and a ceremony will follow in the Village Park.

The honor guard will then proceed to St. Mary’s Cemetery to fire a volley and play taps for a deceased Vietnam veteran Joe Ames.

Ogdensburg

Ogdensburg’s Memorial Day ceremony begins in the city’s marina with a wreath ceremony in the St. Lawrence River and continues with a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Wall Monument. At 10 a.m. a parade will begin at Ogdensburg Public Library. The parade will include the Ogdensburg Free Academy Band, veterans groups, Elks Lodge members, the Ogdensburg Fire Department and Ogdensburg Police Department. The route will cover State Street to the Ogdensburgh Cemetery, where a ceremony will take place with members of local veterans groups.

The ceremony will include readings, speakers and a benediction.

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

Massena

In Massena Memorial kicks off with an 11:30 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 11 a.m. in the church parking lot.

A flag ceremony led by former Marine Corps members will follow. There will be a wreath dedication and a rifle salute from an honor guard. Richard Mathias, a retired lieutenant colonel will give a brief speech.

Events will close with vocalists singing a patriotic number followed by Taps, performed by a pair of buglers. Buffets will follow at the Veterans of Foreign Wars post on East Hatfield Street and the American Legion on East Orvis Street. This year’s event is being carried out the Massena VFW.

Heuvelton

Heuvelton veterans will host Memorial Day observance services at Hillcrest Cemetery at 1 p.m. and at Pine Hill Cemetery at 2 p.m. The ceremony will include readings and benediction.

A luncheon will be held at the Heuvelton Amvets Post 1997.

Morristown

Morristown will host a Memorial Day ceremony for veterans at Champman Park at 10 a.m. The event will feature a “Taps” ceremony and speakers. Morristown Central School band will play. A wreath ceremony will follow at Bayside Park where veterans will honor service people who were lost at sea.

Refreshments will follow at Morristown’s fire hall.

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 Tri-Town ceremonies.

Lisbon

The Lisbon American Legion will host a Memorial Day parade and ceremony beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The parade will begin at Lisbon Central School, County Route 10, and continue to the American Legion at the corner of Five Mile Line Road and County Route 10.

The Lisbon Volunteer Fire Department and the Lisbon Central School Band will participate in the parade. A ceremony will be held at the legion following the parade. Refreshments will also be served.

Norwood

The annual celebration in Norwood 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 squad will march down 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. Potsdam rescue squad is also expected to participate.

Mayor Jim McFadden will speak and 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 also be featured.

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

The rifle squad will also honor and salute local cemeteries by offering a prayer and salute.

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 will lay a wreath at the base of the memorial in front of the Colton Library in honor of lost veterans.

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

Waddington

A Memorial Day parade will be held in Waddington.

It will begin at Island View Park at 9 a.m. and travel up Main Street and across Route 37 where it will be followed by a ceremony and salute to fallen service members at Memorial Park.

Local veterans, scouts and fire fighters 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. They will march to the Hermon Cemetery and there will hold a ceremony.

There will be a dedication after that at the Hepburn Library for a new flag and flagpole in memory of Jack and Gladys Sandwick, which will be followed by a luncheon at the Hermon fire station.