By Carol Fisher-Linn
The weather for Memorial Day, (Monday morning) in the area is predicted to be partly cloudy and 82 degrees. Put on your sunscreen, don your sunhat and head into your local town for the Memorial Day festivities. In Ellicottville, Mary Klahn, Village Clerk, informs that the parade queues up at 10:30, heads to the gazebo for the traditional 11 am service, prayers, gun salute and commemoration. At this writing, in speaking with Dale Dunkleman from the American Legion, a final decision has not been made about the traditional meal at the Legion, so come prepared with alternative plans in case Covid keeps that part of the event from taking place.
The Ellicottville-Franklinville Lions Club is hosting their annual Drive-Thru Chicken BBQ fundraiser on Friday, May 27, 3-6pm or until sold out. Pre-sale $12 per dinner (Call President Bob Illig-716-445-4076 or PDG James Jozwiak 716-998-2501). Day of drive-through price is $14. Dinner includes half chicken, potato, and macaroni salads, roll and butter. Drive thru, take out only at Wingate by Wyndham, 11 Mill Street, Evl. The Lions Clubs across America sponsor service projects aiding community groups such as the visually impaired, disabled and elderly as well as eyeglasses recycling/Recycle for Sight. Your purchase of a chicken dinner will help them to continue their good works in local communities.
On Saturday, May 28th a gathering will take place at 10 am at the Cherry Creek Cemetery and Museum. Tours of the cemetery and museum will be offered from 10-noon. Park on west side of cemetery. Transportation and tour books available. Following that, from Noon to 5, activities will be held at the Main Street Ball Park which will include games, patriotic crafts and music by Paul Zittel and Pure Country from 3-5. These events are offered by the Cherry Creek Community Association. Join them in honoring our Veterans and our country. Then, on Monday, Memorial Day (30th), services will be held at 10:30 with a small parade leading to the Veteran’s memorial on Main Street. For more information 716-296-8083 or brendayhendricks@gmail.com.
Sign outside of West Valley American Legion informs that a service will be held commencing at 11am on Monday, on the Legion grounds.
In Salamanca, the American Legion, in conjunction with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, will begin cemetery visitation on Monday, Memorial Day, at 8am at Wildwood Cemetery, paying respects at the Ahrens grave. They will then move on to Calvary Cemetery to honor Veterans Hughes and Skiba. Services commence at 10am at Veteran’s Park on Broad Street after which the Honor Guard will go to the Salamanca Nursing Home to honor the resident Veterans there. After the ceremonies, everyone is invited to stop in at the VFW for coffee and donuts. Be sure to give a donation for poppies paying homage to all those Veterans who have gone before us.
Springville kicks off their honoring of our Veterans on Saturday, May 28 with a poppy sale (donations) in front of Tops Market (and possible Lowes) from 9am to 1pm. Proceeds from the poppy sale are shared between the National Poppy Fund and local veteran’s programs so please make it a point to get there and donate. Here’s why – History.com tells us this: “across northern France and Flanders (northern Belgium), the brutal clashes between Allied and Central Powers soldiers tore up fields and forests, tearing up trees and plants and wreaking havoc on the soil beneath. But in the warm early spring of 1915, bright red flowers began peeking through the battle-scarred land.” They were bright, hopeful poppies. Wear your poppy with pride as you attend the Monday 30th Memorial Day parade beginning at 11am on South Buffalo Street. It will work its way down Main to Maplewood Cemetery for a commemorative service. Gather afterward at the Concord Post #431 for a complimentary luncheon. Have a safe and thoughtful Memorial Day. Salute a vet.
Westfield opens their Memorial Day (30th) ceremonies by lowering the flag at Moore Park at 7:30am. At 8am, they move on to the Dan Reed Pier Naval and Maritime Observance; 8:30 to St. James Cemetery; 9:15 at Union Cemetery. At 10:30 the parade begins followed by an 11am Academy Street cemetery ceremony and a noon raising of the flag at Moore Park.
Jamestown Veteran’s Council announced that their 2022 Memorial Day Parade will take place at 10am. The parade will travel down 4th Street to Prendergast Avenue, continuing on to Buffalo Street and then into the Lakeview Cemetery, where a brief ceremony will occur.
Bemus Point will host it’s annual Memorial Day Celebration on Monday with Bemus Point-Stow Ferry Memorial Day Celebration starting at noon with a ceremony in the Narrows and Bemus Point Tap House is hosting a slew of events from May 28th through the 30th, such as the Memorial Day Golf Scramble, classic car & motorcycle cruise in, live music and much more.
Dunkirk’s Memorial Day Parade and service is in Memorial Park at 10am (service) with the parade promptly after (11am)
Whatever county you are in, there are ways to celebrate the Memorial Day holiday!!