Memorial Day 2018

Memorial Day 2018 in Owego will honor Fallen Heroes and veterans with a traditional parade at 10:30 a.m. and Service of Remembrance at 11 a.m. at the Tioga County Veterans Memorial located in the Courthouse Square in Owego.

Parade Marshall John Loftus organizes the parade on Temple Street in front of the police station, and the parade moves at 10:30 a.m. to North, to Main, to Paige, to Front, and on to the Tioga County Veterans Memorials.

Community organizations like the Elks and village, town and county officials and others may join veterans and auxiliaries to participate in the downtown parade by marching or riding in cars. Those not mentioned consider this an invitation to take part.

The Owego Free Academy Parade Band provides parade and park music, and Boy Scout Troop 60 hopes all other scout troops march.

Owego Elementary Students wave small American flags in the parade to honor Tioga County’s Fallen Heroes at the memorial.

Owego Little League will honor those who served, fought and died for our freedom. 

Patriotic floats remembering Fallen Heroes are encouraged.

The Owego Fire Department and Emergency Squads are asked to have their equipment in the parade. The Fire Police will help the Owego Police Department with traffic control.

The VFW Honor Guard will pay tribute to our last Pearl Harbor Survivor, Bill Kennedy. His burial is pending at Pearl Harbor. Families of Pearl Harbor Survivors are invited.

Other remembrances include the 65th Anniversary of the Korean War and 100th of WW1. 

The Tioga County Historical Society is researching local WW1 service and more stories would be appreciated from community resources.

Korea, Viet Nam and Modern Warfare Veterans and current military are asked to be in the parade and at the park for recognition. 

A Roll Call of deceased Tioga County Veterans since Veterans Day will be read by the Veterans Service Agency officers.

The Invocation and Benediction and Wreath Laying by the VFW, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans and Veterans Of Modern Warfare recognizes the meaning of Memorial Day.

A wreath cast into the Susquehanna River remembers Navy deceased.

A Rifle Salute by the VFW Post Honor Guard and Taps by an Owego Free Academy bugler on the bridge will conclude the program.

Mary Beth Jones and JoAnn Walter will give a Final Salute and Roll Call of deceased veterans buried in Tioga County cemeteries at 8:30 a.m., and by the Tioga County Civil War Memorial with sound by Gordon Ichikawa.

Flags are hung at half-staff from sunrise until noon.

Village of Owego DPW employees will post flags on the Court Street Bridge. Flags are a “Tribute Past Due” to 44 Fallen Heroes, whose Honored Names were not on the first WWII Memorial.

“Flags In” ceremonies by veterans, scouts, and families ensured the placement of a flag by the headstone of each buried veteran, including those in military cemeteries overseas.

Contact Owego VFW Memorial Day Chairman Jim Raftis by email to jraftis2@stny.rr.com with suggestions for the parade or park, and for the very important identification of our Forgotten Heroes.

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