Waterloo, NY

Waterloo New York, the officially recognized Birthplace of Memorial Day. The 155th consecutive Memorial Day Commemoration was held in Waterloo on May 30, 2021. The commemoration started at St. Mary’s Cemetery with a fly over by 5 vintage planes, organized by Lauren Dates. Prayer was offered by Rev. Roy Kiggins from St. Francis & St. Clare Parish, followed by gun salute & taps. Then on to Maple Grove Cemetery, where prayer was offered by Rev. Jeff Haugaard from St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, wreaths were laid followed by gun salute and taps. On to Elisha Williams Cemetery where prayer was offered by Chuck Nightingale, Waterloo American Legion Chaplin, followed by gun salute and taps. The ceremonies concluded at Lafayette Park with the laying of wreaths, prayer by Chuck Nightingale, VFW commander, gun salute and taps. Thank you to Assemblyman Jeff Gallahan and Senator Pam Helming for their presentations. https://youtu.be/QDlT72b3a3U

On Sunday morning May 30th, veterans will be assembling at St. Mary’s Cemetery at 11:00 a.m.
There will be a veteran sponsored flyover followed by prayer, wreath laying and gun salute. Similar ceremonies will be then held at Maple Grove & Elisha Williams cemeteries on Stark Street and then at LaFayette Park to observe Memorial Day and salute our fallen soldiers for the 155th year in The Birthplace of Memorial Day! These services will be filmed and made available for viewing here on the Village Website.