The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY – Mom used to call it Decoration Day, which is what it was known by when she was growing up. Today it is officially called Memorial Day – a day set aside to honor those men and women who died in the service of their country.

The custom of decorating graves of fallen soldiers goes back, it is told, to ancient Greece. In this country, the custom started after the Civil War. And the city of Waterloo, NY is the acknowledged first city to hold a memorial service on May 5, 1866.

It was 1882 before the term Memorial Day was first used, and that became the official name of the remembrance in 1967. One year later Congress passed the Uniform Holidays Bill, which moved three holidays from their original dates to a specific Monday. Memorial Day, traditionally celebrated on May 30 was moved to the last Monday in May. This year, that day is May 31.

Canada celebrates a similar observance and calls it Victoria Day, There it is celebrated on May 24 or the last Monday before that date.

Volunteers, many of them veterans, observe Memorial Day by placing American flags on each grave site at all the 146 national cemeteries.

Here in Sullivan County, Memorial Day will be celebrated with parades, services and more. Here is just a partial list of services, parades and other remembrances that are happening during Memorial Day weekend:

BETHEL WOODS FILM SERIES: “IN THE YEAR OF THE PIG”

Friday, May 28, Doors open at 6:45 p.m.

The Museum at Bethel Woods will show a screening of “In the Year of the Pig” as a part of their Spring Film Series. Released in the midst of the war, this Oscar nominee for Best Picture (1969) documents the Vietnam War from its French colonialism to the Tet Offensive. From rickshaws to Dien Bien Phu, this is history, death, battles, and ideas as only film can do it. Tickets $8 per person. Film begins at 7:00 p.m. Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Hurd Road, Bethel. 454-3388 or 866-781-2922.

MEMORIAL DAY ART SHOW

Saturday May 29, 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

The Barryville Area Arts Association is hosting a Memorial Day Art Show at the Roebling View on Route 97 in Barryville, rain or shine from

MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE

Sunday, May 30, 4:00 p.m.

Service at Veterans Park, on Roosevelt Avenue in Woodridge, refreshments to follow at the Village Hall.

MEMORIAL DAY PARADE

Sunday, May 30, 1:00 p.m.

Parade, starting at the New Bloomingburg Firehouse and ending at the Bloomingburg Rural Cemetery. Service by American Legion Post 1266 and VFW Post 4947. Sponsored by Village of Bloomingburg.

MEMORIAL DAY SERVICES

Monday, May 31

Barryville: 9:30 .am. – Service at Barryville Cemetery, Mail Road, Barryville

Bethel, 11:00 a.m. – Service at Town of Bethel Veterans Park, Kauneonga Lake

County Service: Liberty: 1:00 p.m. – Service and Wreath Ceremony at the Sullivan County Veterans Cemetery, Sunset Lake Road, Liberty. Master of Ceremonies: John Bridges. Keynote Speaker is Donald W. Stuart, U.S. Navy veteran (Vietnam Era), Administrative Officer, Facilities Management Service, Albany VA Medical Center.

Eldred: 9:00 a.m. – Service at Eldred Cemetery and Montaz Cemetery, Rt. 55, North of Eldred High School, in Eldred

Fremont: 9:30 a.m. – Service at Intersections of Rt. 93, 94 and 95, Downtown Freemont Center.

Fremont: 10:00 a.m. – Freemont Memorial Day Parade; following parade, Presentation of Memorial Flag to Shirley Stabbert, in Memory of Frederick Stabbert.

Fremont: Memorial Day Ham Dinner – 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., at the Fremont Center Community Church, Fremont Center. Tickets, $9; children ages 5-12; children ages 4 and under are admitted Free. Call 887-4229.

Forestburgh: Service at Veterans Triangle, Rt. 42 South, Forestburgh. Refreshments to follow at the Forestburgh Fire House. Sponsored by the Town of Forestburgh, The American Legion, Jewish War Veterans and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Glen Spey: 10:00 a.m. – Service at Town of Lumberland Hall, 1054 Proctor Road, Glen Spey
Refreshments to follow.

Liberty: 10:00 a.m. – Parade Line-up on West Liberty Street and North Main Street in Liberty. Parade will start at 10:30 a.m. and travel through the business district in the Village of Liberty, proceed down Church Street, and end at the Liberty Veterans Cemetery on Cold Spring Road. At the cemetery, there will be a short program.

Long Eddy: 1:00 p.m. – Service at the Graveside of Allan Milk, refreshments to follow at the Long Eddy Firehouse.

Monticello: 10:30 a.m. – Service at Veterans Monument, County Government Center, 100 North St., Monticello. Master of Ceremonies: Al Etkin. Keynote Speaker is Francis Currey, Medal of Honor Recipient – World War II.

Neversink: 11:00 a.m. – Service at the Grahamsville Cemetery. Refreshments to follow at the Grahamsville Reformed Church.

Obernburg: 3:00 p.m. – Service at St. Mary’s Church, refreshments to follow.

Roscoe: 10:00 a.m. – Parade, line up 9:30 a.m., starting at Roscoe Central School. Service to follow at the Roscoe Presbyterian Church, Main St. in Roscoe. After the service attendees are invited to join Bill Streeter, director of the Delaware Valley Raptor Center for Close Encounters With Birds of Prey. The show will include a bald eagle, and will take place directly across from the Veterans’ Memorial at the Niforatos field. Live poppy plants will be available for sale. Bring your own lawn chair. Call 439-4039.

Wurtsboro: 1:00 p.m. – Parade, Lineup at 12:30 p.m.; Parade starts at the American Legion Home for Post 1266, Pine Street, Wurtsboro. Services follow at Wurtsboro Veterans’ Park on Sullivan Street. Sponsored by American Legion Post 1266 and VFW Post 4947.