Memorial Day In Binghamton: Honoring Lives Sacrificed

To me, Memorial Day is more than an excuse to throw a picnic or a reason to take a weekend trip. To me, Memorial Day is also a day to honor those who gave their lives for my freedom. I come from a military family. As a matter of fact, for the first 8 years of my life, I was an Army kid who moved state to state, base to base. My grandpa is retired Navy, one of my uncles is active Air Force and I’ve got two other uncles who also served in the Navy and Air Force.

I think it’s easy for us to get wrapped up in the politics of this and the politics of that. War this and war that, but can’t we put all of that aside for a day and instead remember the sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, husbands and wives who made the choice to stand for their country and because of their heroism, won’t be with their loved ones this weekend? These selfless people deserve that of us.  These amazing souls are braver than you or I could probably ever be.

In the midst of whatever it is you’ve got planned, I hope you’ll find the time to show your support for the former and current military and for the military who no longer walk this earth.  And, if you’re looking for a local Memorial Day parade, here are the ones I was able to find (If you know of a parade not on the list feel free to email me the info here):

City of Binghamton
The Broome County Veterans Parade Committee and the City of Binghamton are holding their annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday May 27th at 2pm. The parade will step off from the American Legion Post 80 on Main Street

Town of Binghamton
The annual Memorial Day Parade will kick off Monday May 27th at 10 am at the Fire Station in downtown Hawleyton and will proceed to the cemetery.

Endicott
The Memorial Day Parade steps off from Washington Avenue at 10:30am with services at the Veteran’s Memorial Park at 11am.

Oxford
The Memorial Day parade will step off from the Oxford American Legion Post # 376 on South Washington Avenue at 9:30am.

Owego
The Owego Memorial Day parade will step off at 10:30am from the Owego Police Station on Temple Street and then go from North to Main to Page to Front to the Tioga County Veterans Memorial on the south lawn of the Tioga County Courthouse. The Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony will honor all those including the 165 from Tioga County who gave the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.