Category Archives: May 30th Commemoration
WATERLOO PURPLE HEART WALL OF HONOR DEDICATION CEREMONY MEMORIAL DAY MONDAY MAY 30th 2022
Waterloo, New York –The Village of Waterloo has led a multi-year initiative to honor the brave service members nominated by family and friends who have received the distinguished Purple Heart Award with a new local Wall of Honor that recognizes this distinctive military honor this Memorial Day and all are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Due to COVID-19 circumstances, a soft unveiling was held in August of 2020 and now fittingly, the official dedication ceremony is taking place on Memorial Day in Waterloo, New York the birthplace of Memorial Day, on Monday May 30th at 5pm in Lafayette Park with Senator Helming as the Master of Ceremonies.
The Purple Heart Wall of Honor dedication is part of Waterloo’s 156th Remembrance of Memorial Day with Commemoration events starting in the morning of Military Services at Village Cemeteries, Veterans Bike Rally, and a Commemorative Parade down Main Street at 4pm followed with a Wreath Laying Ceremony in Lafayette Park, and the Purple Heart dedication at 5pm on the main stage.
“I am so pleased this day has arrived,” said Village of Waterloo Mayor Jack O’Connor, “The Day, the Memorial and the Ceremony will be dedicated to Commemorating Veterans, particularly those wounded and killed in military conflicts that will forever be engraved on our local Purple Heart Wall of Honor. I am grateful to all who assisted in making this project a reality and thankful knowing that it will continue to expand as it is a “living Memorial” with applications continuously collected.”
The Purple Heart was first instituted by George Washington in 1782 to honor bravery in action. The second and current iteration of the award, dating back to February 22, 1932, is to honor those killed or wounded in combat while serving their country. The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration presented to our brave service members.
Additional Details on the full three-days of Memorial Day Weekend events, as well as donation information towards the continuation of the Purple Heart Program can be found here on the Village of Waterloo website
Please join us
FOR THE VILLAGE OF WATERLOO PURPLE HEART WALL OF HONOR DEDICATION
Please join us in recognizing the brave service members who have received this distinctive military honor.
Monday, May 30, 2022
Lafayette Park, Memorial Day Place Waterloo, NY
Click for Donation Information
Schedules – Applications – Maps available
If you are looking for a Schedule of Events, Event Map or 5k Race Map, or need an Application for an event or wish to be a vendor, please visit this link.
Schedules, Applications, Maps, etc.
Memorial Day in Waterloo 2021
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
155th consecutive Memorial Day Commemoration in Waterloo
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.
Memorial Day May 30, 2015 Cemetery ceremonies recap
This is a short recap of the 2015 ceremonies.