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2012 List of Memorial Day Parades in the Greater Albany Area

Anyone can have a parade. Only Americans can have a parade to celebrate the greatest political achievements in history: establishing and repeatedly defending a country founded on the principle of individual liberty.  Memorial Day, which was originally called Decoration Day because it was a day on which the graves of fallen soldiers were decorated, was established in the years after the Civil War to honor those who died in that war.  Today, it is a day of remembrance of all who have died in this country's service.

Bravery. Honor. In President Lincoln's famous words, giving the last full measure of devotion to the defense of freedom.  These are difficult ideas to explain to children, but it is our responsibility as parents to do it.

Start by bringing your kids to the Memorial Day Parade in your town. During the parade, demonstrate for them the solemnity and gratitude due to the veterans who march past. Take off your hats as they go by. Explain to your kids why we show respect for the flag. With them, cheer for the bands and salute the men and women in our police and fire departments. Think about those currently serving our country in the military around the world, and, perhaps, reflect with your children about the gratitude we owe their courage. If you know parents with a child in the military, take a few minutes to find a way to convey your thanks.

Click here for a brief history of Memorial Day in the U.S., courtesy of the Waterloo, NY web site. Below the following list of dates and times for this year, we have compiled some other good links for those of you ambitious enough to explore further the meaning of Memorial Day. The Waterloo Festival in 2012 takes place May 25, 26, 27, 28, & 30th with parades on the 26th and the 30th.

Also note: If you are marching in a parade, line-up is usually about 1/2 hour before the start of the parade.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

• Scotia Memorial Day Parade

  Starting at 5:30 p.m., Scotia's 84th Memorial Day Parade will be held on their main street, Mohawk Avenue.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

• Rotterdam Memorial Day Parade

  Starts at 6:30 P.M. sharp. Curry Road and Warrior Path-Mohonasen High School. Open House at the Rotterdam Elks Club, Curry Road follows the parade.

Friday, May 25, 2012

• South Glens Falls Memorial Day Parade

  The parade will begin at 6 PM starting at the corner of Main St. and William St. and continue down Main St. to the Village Triangle Park.

• Stillwater Memorial Day Parade

  7pm. Hudson Avenue and Route 4 will be closed for the evening.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

• Ballston Spa

  Starts at 9:00 AM, Milton Avenue. Sponsored by American Legion Post 234 and VFW Post 358.

Monday, May 28, 2012

• Downtown Albany Memorial Day Parade

  Starts at 9:30am. Parade starts at Patridge Street and Central Avenue and continues east on Central to Washington Avenue to North Hawk Street. Reviewing stand at State Education Building on Washington Avenue.
  Parade will be followed immediately by a ceremony at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Lafayette Park.

• Berne-Knox-Westerlo Memorial Day Parade (also called Hilltowns Parade)

  Starts at 10 AM in Berne.  The parade route starts on Route 443 and ends at the Berne-Knox-Westerlow High School, and the best viewing is along Route 443 between Route 156 and the school. Featuring: Marching band, fire trucks, floats, marching units, horses, tractors, military vehicles, etc., and a traditional flag ceremony and taps at BKW School, 1738 Helderberg Trail. Count on food booths, bake sales.

• Bethlehem

  Begins at 11:00 a.m. from the Elsmere Fire House, 15 West Poplar Drive, Delmar and will proceed down Elsmere Ave. to Kenwood Ave., Adams Place, Adams St., Delaware Avenue and will end with a ceremony at the Bethlehem Veterans Memorial Park.

• Watervliet Memorial Day Parade

  Starts at 10 am from WHS. The City of Watervliet and the Combined Veterans Association of Watervliet sponsor an annual Memorial Day Parade held on the day of the Monday holiday. The parade kicks off at 10:00 a.m. and proceeds from the Watervliet High School parking lot to 19th Street, east to 2nd Avenue, then south to 16th Street and ends at the Veteran's Memorial Park where a memorial service takes place honoring all veterans.  Any person or group wishing to participate should contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 518-270-3824.

• Hoosick Falls Memorial Day Parade

  Starts at the park, Main St. across from the P.O. at 10am (lineup at 9:30)

• Castleton's Memorial Day Parade

  Starts at 10am on Boltwood Ave. Following the brief ceremonies that will take place at the Mountain View Cemetery, awards will be given for floats, fire companies, youth groups, and decorated bikes. Participants should be in place no later than 9:30 a.m. Parents of children who are in the parade: please walk your child to their designated place in the area of Campbell & Boltwood, and don't drive on Campbell, Benedict, or Boltwood. Contact: newdustydog@live.com
   

• Bolton Memorial Day

  Starts at 10am from Rogers Memorial to Veterans Park.
   

• The Lansingburgh Memorial Day Parade

  The parade route is from 123rd Street and 5th Avenue, South to 115th Street and 5th Avenue. Turn down 115th Street to 2nd Avenue. North on 2nd Avenue to 121st Street and 2nd Avenue. The Reviewing Stand will be located on the East Side of 2nd Avenue in front of Standard Manufacturing Company. Individuals, groups, and bands who would like to participate in the parade should contact Co-Chairs Lisa Higgitt (235-0476) or Bill Gordon (233-8656/763-4072) and request a letter of invite.

• The North Greenbush Memorial Day Parade

  Starts at 1:30 pm on Steamview Lane. The parade will travel down Marion Avenue to Brookside to Main Avenue.

If you know of other Memorial Day Celebrations in the Albany area, please email us and we will add them to this list.

More links

Check out some of the stories and thoughts of Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain, who is credited with holding the Union position at Little Round Top at Gettysburg, and was an eloquent professor of rhetoric from Maine besides.

Or read about Robert G. Shaw, who was the 26-year-old commander of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, the first black regiment of the Civil War. Matthew Broderick starred as Colonel Shaw in the 1989 film about the regiment, Glory, which also featured Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman.

You could also discuss with them the patriot Nathan Hale, who was the first American captured and executed for spying on the British during the Revolutionary war. He is the originator of the often-repeated "I only regret I have but one life to lose for my country."

For a bit more recent history, you might show your children the famous picture of Strank, Block, Sousley, and their comrades taken just before these three died on Iwo Jima, and talk about what it means.

Or, you might stick with the incomparable words of Lincoln on the topic, so that your children understand that indeed, the heros we honor on Memorial day have done much more than their share, and that it is "for us the living,...to be dedicated....to the great work which they who fought ...have thus far so nobly advanced."