Legion in Lyndonville urges Memorial Day participation

Organization reminds public flag holders for flags belong to cemeteries

Photos courtesy of Steve Goodrich: These flag holders are at veterans’ graves in Lyndonville.

LYNDONVILLE – The American Legion welcomes the public to be a part of the Memorial Day parade on May 26.

The parade begins at the Lake Avenue baseball field at 9 a.m. Participants should be there by 8:45. The processional then heads to Main Street and stops at Veterans Park by the library for a ceremony.

Steve Goodrich, commander of the Houseman-Tanner Post 1603 of the American Legion, also wanted to remind the public the markers and flag holders set by veterans’ graves are meant to be there year-round and are the property of the cemetery where the veteran is buried – not the family of the veteran.

Goodrich said the markers can be costly to replace at $150 for a bronze marker at $33 for aluminum if bought in bulk.

“The markers are provided by veteran’s organizations at no cost to the families of those veterans,” Goodrich said. “Please do not take them home! If a grave is found without a marker, a new one will be bought at expense to the post in that town.”

If a marker is dislodged, do not take it to a veteran or to a post, Goodrich said. Leave it where it is and notify a post member exactly where it is so it can be determined what grave it is near and should be returned to.

Post selling tickets for Bills bench as fundraiser

The Houseman-Tanner Post also beginning on Memorial Day will be selling tickets for a fund-raiser until Aug. 15.

“We will be again raffling off a hand-made bench,” Goodrich said. “This year’s model a Buffalo Bills in a Zuba pattern.”

The tickets are $5 each or five for $20. The drawing will be held Aug. 15 at the annual Lyndonville Street Dance. The bench is made by retired US Army veteran Calvin Wadford.