2023 Glens Falls and Queensbury Memorial Day Parade & Ceremony

The Glens Falls and Queensbury Memorial Day Parade this year was certainly an event to remember! Driving along Glen Street in the early morning hours, parade-goers had set out chairs to hold their spots along the parade route… An immense American Flag held by a large crane filled the sky above the Victory and Peace Monument in Crandall Park, and attendees streamed out of the tree line of Crandall park and walked across the field as the sun filled the sky on the perfect May morning! The Parade, which began on Maple Street, proceeded along Glen Street and finished at Crandall Park, where a remembrance ceremony took place in front of the Victory And Peace Monument.

The Grand marshals for the parade were Tim Benner, Harriet Rogers, and Mike Varmette, and the ceremony was hosted by John Strough – the Queensbury town Supervisor – and Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins. Amy Collins – the Director of Tourism of the City of Glens Falls – was on hand for the parade, and was pleased with the turnout!

The 2023 theme for the remembrance ceremony was “Let’s Remember and Honor the Fallen”: “We deeply appreciate with all of our hearts and souls the fallen. For it was them who gave their lives, the ultimate sacrifice so that the rest of us could enjoy happiness and freedom,” John Strough said, before the moment of silence for men and women who had lost their lives.

The Queensbury High School band, with band director James Cirillo, were on hand for the ceremony and opened with “The Star Spangled Banner”. Jack Sweet – the New York State’s Boys State Citizen – read The Gettysburg Address.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner highlighted the sacrifice of 14 Glens Falls natives who lost their lives in the Vietnam War: “2023 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the end of U.S. military involvement in the Vietnam War… I would like to use my time today to reflect upon the sacrifices made by our local heroes during one of the most significant chapters in our nation’s history. 14 sons of the greater Glens Falls area put on the cloth of our nation, hugged their mothers and fathers, kissed their sweethearts, boarded the bus, and left their hometown to travel halfway around the world to defend their nation in Vietnam and never returned home… And they represented the very best of our community and our nation,” Assemblywoman Woerner said. 

State Senator Dan Stec spoke at the ceremony as well: “It’s so important to remember that these young men and women were just that, young. Their whole lives in front of them, they had dreams, aspirations…They will never see their families again, never enjoy a picnic or parade again. Why? For the idea of what the United States of America is, what we all say we want. To leave the country better than we found it,” State Senator Stec said. 

As the ceremony came to a close, the focus shifted to the next generation – the importance of Memorial Day to the next generation, and the value of their participation. This was highlighted with a poster contest and essay contest in both Queensbury and Glens Falls High Schools, and each of the winners of the essay contest were on hand to read their essays. The theme of the essay was the theme of the ceremony: “Let’s Remember and Honor the Fallen”.

The essay winner from Queensbury was Brianna Gay. She wrote her essay about the service of her grandfather Robert Gay, and the importance of working towards a courageous future… He served in the Vietnam War, and struggled with PTSD. Brianna highlighted that the sacrifice of the fallen allowed her grandfather and his family to live their lives today.

From Glens Falls High School, the essay winner was Daelen Nelson. Her essay highlighted how the phrase “Let’s remember and Honor the Fallen” evolves into something meaningful throughout a child’s life… Her essay expressed an empathy and understanding for the evolution of conscious thought in children. She conveyed the progression as a child grows and understands that the words have context and meaning that evoke feelings: “So now when we hear this phrase and recognize its true meaning, it’s no longer just a combination of words. It’s a feeling of grief, sorrow and loss for those brave soldiers that are no longer with us,” Daelen read from her essay.

The ceremony concluded with the three-rifle volley; the firing of three volleys over the grave of a fallen warrior, which has its origins in the old custom of halting the fighting to to remove the dead from the battle field. This was followed by the languid and melancholy sound of the bugle as a call to remember those who gave their lives in service to the United States… The 24 mournful notes commemorate the memory of the fallen.