Several vehicles are pictured during a past Memorial Day parade in the town of Poland. Several events across the south county are planned for the holiday weekend. P-J file photo

Memorial Day honors those who have given their lives in service to the country. Many towns and villages are holding events to do just that.

¯ The Blue Star Mothers New York Chapter 4 is holding its Gold Star Memorial Remembrance Ceremony on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Veteran’s Memorial Park on West Third and Logan Streets in Jamestown. The Blue Star Mothers honor Western New York residents who have given their lives in service of the United States by acknowledging their Gold Star families left behind.

Attending the ceremony are state Assemblyman Andrew Gooddell, state Sen. George Borrello, County Executive PJ Wendel, a representative from U.S. Rep. Tom Reed’s office, Mayor Eddie Sundquist, and former state Sen. Cathy Young.

Holly Baker, past president of the American Gold Star Mothers of New York and mother of Sgt. Brian K. Baker, who was killed in action while serving the country in Baghdad, Iraq, will be the keynote speaker.

A Color Guard, traditional three-volley salute and playing of Taps will be presented by local veterans organizations. A white balloon will be released after the reading of each hero’s name as an act of solemn tribute.

¯ The town of Gerry will be holding a service on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the cemetery on Route 60. The Cassadaga Valley Band will be playing, Robert Clark will be placing the wreath, Dave Rowley from WDOE will be speaking, Chaplain Larry Petrie from Heritage Village will do the benediction, the Cassadaga Legion will do the gun salute and kids from Cassadaga Valley will play the Taps and bugles.

¯ The village of Sherman is holding a Memorial Day parade on Monday at 9 a.m. The parade will begin at the east of Main Street and end at the monument in front of the Yorker Museum. Sherman Central School band will put on a musical performance at the monument to conclude the parade.

¯ Findley Lake won’t be having a parade, but there will be a brief program Monday to honor the veterans at the Gazebo downtown starting at 10 a.m.

¯ American Legion Henry Mosher Post 638 will be holding a procession in Falconer Monday at 10:15 a.m. The procession will and end at Pine Hill Cemetery.

¯ The village of Panama is holding its Memorial Day parade on Monday. Line-up begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Panama Central School parking lot. The parade starts at 11 a.m. and finishes at the lower cemetery in Panama.

¯ The town of Poland is holding a Memorial Day parade on Monday at noon. Line-up for the parade begins at the town hall, and the parade ends at Riverside Cemetery. Afterward, a ceremony will be held at the cemetery.

¯ The grand re-opening weekend of the Bemus Point-Stow Ferry will be capped off with a ceremony to honor those who have lost their lives in service to the country. On Monday at noon, the ferry will have a tribute in the middle of the narrows featuring a bagpiper, a group from the Ellery VFW and Taps from a volunteer.

¯ The 97th annual Sinclairville Memorial Day observance will be held on Memorial Day, May 31, at the Soldiers’ Monument in Evergreen Cemetery.

The annual parade has again been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. The color guard and veterans will meet at the David Vern Luce Community Building and will march to the cemetery for the ceremony. Those attending are asked to practice covid-19 guidelines, as laid out by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

The keynote speaker will be Frank Lauricella of Charlotte. Capt. Lauricella served as chief environmental officer for New York State Region 9 and is now retired after 36 years of state service. He is a graduate of Frontier High School; Paul Smith College; the state DEC Police Academy and from the FBI National Academy Session 260. In response to the World Trade Center terrorist act on September 11, 2001, Lauricella was sent to New York City to support recovery operations.

¯ Instead of a traditional parade, the Cassadaga Lakes Association is holding a boat parade Monday. Boaters should assemble in the middle lake at 1:45 p.m. with patriotic adornments, and the parade will start at 2 p.m. The parade will follow a route through the channel and around the entire lower lake. Spectators can view the parade along Dale Drive, Lakeview Ave., portions of Maple Avenue and at the beach on Park Avenue.