Memorial Day observances set for Orleans County

Holley will unveil historical marker for 9 young men who died in Vietnam War

Photo by Tom Rivers: Flags are set by the graves of soldiers in the veterans’ section at Boxwood Cemetery in Medina on Thursday.

There will be parades and services for Memorial Day in Orleans County communities, including the dedication of a new historical marker in Holley for the nine young men from the community who were called during the Vietnam War.

Holley will unveil the marker in front of the former Holley High School. There will be a service at the American Legion at 9 a.m. and then the marker will be dedicated with a parade to follow to Hillside Cemetery.

The marker for the “Holley Boys” recognizes the nine from Holley who were killed during the Vietnam War: John P. Davis, David D. Case, Ronnie P. Sisson, David P. States, Howard Bowen, Gary E. Bullock, Gary L. Stymus, George W. Fischer Jr. and Paul S. Mandracchia. Holley had one of the highest per capita casualty rates in the country during the Vietnam War.

After the parade and observances at the cemeteries, refreshments will be available at the Holley VFW Post 202.

Other Memorial Day events include:

ALBION – The parade starts at 10 a.m. at Main Street near the park Street intersection. From there the processional goes to East Avenue, and then to the middle school.

A service will be held in front of the middle school at approximately 11 a.m.

KENDALL – A ceremony will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 30, at the Kendall Community Park where there is a war memorial and gazebo. It is located on Kendall Road, across from the Kendall Elementary School. Kendall observes the holiday on May 30, which was the original day of Memorial Day. It was changed to the be the last Monday of May in 1968 to have a three-day weekend for federal employees.

LYNDONVILLE – A parade will start at 9 a.m. from the parking lot at the former St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Lake Avenue and participants will march to the library for the ceremony which follows.

MEDINA – The parade will start at 11 a.m. at the Olde Pickle Factory building on Park Avenue and proceed to the State Street Park where a ceremony will be held at about noon.