On Memorial Day, the Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 Honor Guard held a military service at 12 cemeteries. Shown here is the Honor Guard at the Burnhams Hollow Cemetery.

CASSADAGA — On Memorial Day, The Honor Guard of the Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 paid tribute to fallen veterans in 12 cemeteries. Members of the Legion Honor Guard gathered at the Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 at 6 a.m., and left the Legion hall at 6:45 a.m. for the first cemetery.

The 10 men rode on a bus provided by Whiskey Hill of Cassadaga and driven by Mark Coon. Appreciation is extended to Mr. Coon for driving the bus. The first stop was at the Charlotte Center Cemetery at 7:15 a.m. and it was 38 degrees. The men lined up in the cemetery, led by Past County Commander James Hayward, a prayer was said first by Cassadaga Village and Town of Stockton Historian John Sipos, who served as the chaplain for the day, then there was a 21-gun salute, and followed by Ron Boyland playing taps on the bugle.

Susan Washington Sipos took photographs of the group. The group then moved to the next cemetery. The round trip to all the cemeteries was 48 miles. The second cemetery was the Burnhams Hollow cemetery, followed by the Christian Cemetery in Arkwright. The group then traveled to the Bachelor Hill Cemetery, which was the first cemetery for Cassadaga, then to Stockton to the Evergreen Cemetery and the Greenwood Cemetery. From there, the group traveled to the Oregon Cemetery in Centralia, and to the Red Bird Corners Cemetery.

By the time the group reached Sinclairville, the Memorial Day parade began. The honor guard ceremony was then held at the Sinclairville Cemetery. The next stop was at the Pickett Corners Cemetery. From there, the group traveled to Lily Dale for a ceremony at their Memorial park, and concluded the tour with the ceremony and raising of the American Flag at the Cassadaga Village Park at Route 60 and Maple Avenue.

After a welcome by Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 Commander Mitch Hoinski, a prayer was given, the 21-gun salute, the National Anthem played by the Cassadaga Valley Band, the Memorial wreath was placed at the base of the American Flag in the village park by Sons of American Legion Brad Blizzard and Ranee Kaus member of the Cassadaga American Legion Auxiliary, the parade began.

Historian John Sipos served as the Parade Marshal. The American Legion Post 1280 Honor Guard led the parade, which was on Maple Avenue in the village. There were many participants, including Korean War veteran Joe Mikula in a red convertible driven by Brad Blizzard, the guest speaker Steve Snyder in a convertible driven by Don Fowler, a Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Car, a New York State Police truck, the Cassadaga Valley School Band, fire trucks from Cassadaga, Lily Dale, Sinclairville, and Stockton, the Cassadaga Little League Baseball team, and many others, including John Deere tractors. By this time, the outside temperature had risen to 55 degrees and it was sunny.

The parade concluded at the Cassadaga Cemetery with many people standing and watching the ceremony. Cassadaga American Legion Post 1280 Commander Mitch Hoinski welcomed all to the service which included the Pledge to the American Flag written in 1892, reading of the In Flanders Field poem written at the end of World War I, reading of the President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address written in 1863, raising of the American Flag, and a speech by guest speaker Steve Snyder. Snyder is a native of Cassadaga, growing up in Cassadaga, and working for his father Harold Snyder at the Cassadaga Grocery Store, and then joining the US Navy to become a Navy SEAL. Navy SEALS are highly specialized members of the United States Navy having the ability to operate in all environments.

Snyder spoke of some of his experiences with the Navy. Following the service and the 21-gun salute, everyone was invited to the American Legion Hall where refreshments of hot dogs and soda were provided by the Cassadaga American Legion Ladies Auxiliary for all to enjoy.