FULTON – The Fulton Memorial Day Salute Parade Committee announces the judges’ awards for Saturday’s parade.
The theme for the 31st Annual Memorial Day Parade was “AMERICA… WORTH FIGHTING FOR.” Based upon this theme, the judges chose several groups in the parade that best represented this year’s theme. Zachary Menter, parade chairman, announced the following judge’s decisions.
The winner of “The Grand Marshall Award” for the most patriotic and interesting group was the Fulton Elks Club Lodge #830 float. Their float was elegantly decorated and gave a very positive patriotic message to the audience and the parade judges.
A parade is music, with bands of different sizes and sounds. The “Best Music Trophy” was awarded to the Naples High School Marching Band, under the direction of Phillip Bariteau who works hard with his students to develop their skills. His band is large and the sound is outstanding for children of that age level.
The Fulton Polish Home won the “Theme Trophy.” They had the Salt City Polka Band and a colorful float that contained several of the Polish Legion of America Veterans (PLAV) on it in their full dress military uniforms. The Fulton Polish Home met all aspects of the parade theme of “AMERICA… WORTH FIGHTING FOR.”
There are always a large number of children’s groups in the parade, so the parade committee awards three trophies in the category of Children’s Groups.
The first place in the “Children Awards” was awarded to the Off Broadway Dance Studio. Their dance routine and their beautiful float was second to none.
Second place went to the Brockville Lions Steel Drum Band, all the way from Ontario Canada.
Third place went to the Fulton City School District Junior and High School “marching” band. Even though the band is not a marching band, their music and marching ability each Memorial Day is to be complemented.
Three trophies are given by the “Fulton Veteran’s Council” for which veteran’s groups and active military are eligible. Winning first place in the Veteran’s group was the VFW Post 569 Float.
Winning second place was the 10th Mountain Division marching band out of Fort Drum.
Taking third place was the Fulton VFW Post 569 Ladies Auxiliary Cars and VFW Junior Girls.
The judges for the parade were the presidents of the four Fulton Service Clubs and two members of our local Veterans’ Council. The president of the Fulton Rotary Sunrise Club is Peggy Donnelly. President of the Fulton Kiwanis Club is Sandy Farrands. President of the Fulton Lion’s Club is Jim Sokolowski. The president of the Fulton Rotary Club is Judy Young. Dick Erb and Warren Jenkins were the two representatives from the Veterans’ Council.
The parade was hosted by Tom Owens from B104.7.
Dick Kemmis assisted Tom with the announcing of all the different units.
The parade was kicked off by the singing of the National Anthem by G. Ray Bodley High School student Kassy McCann.
Diane Sokolowski was in charge of hospitality in the judging/announcing area.
The parade chairperson was Zach Menter and parade stewards were: Cathy Trowbridge, Robbin Griffin, Mike Schoeder, Sharon Foster, David Nethercott, Megan Urbach, and Austin Doyle.
This year’s parade was filmed by Bill Schlientz. Assisting Bill with the filming were Carson Metcalf, Pat Sullivan and Millie Grace.
Bill Grace and Dave Mirabito worked with the camera crew by holding microphones along the parade route giving those being filmed an opportunity to comment.
The Memorial Day Salute Committee is made up of the presidents of the four Fulton Service clubs, along with, Tom Mirabito of Kiwanis, Larry Macner from the Fulton Veterans’ Council, Carol Vescio and Peggy Donnelly from the Fulton Sunrise Rotary Club, Diane Sokolowski and Carl Nylen from the Fulton Lion’s Club, Zach Menter and Dick Kemmis from the Fulton Rotary Club, and Jim Myers and Bill Schlientz as interested citizens.
This year’s Memorial Day Salute chairman was Dick Kemmis, secretaries were Carl Nylen and Diane Sokolowski. Tom Mirabito served as treasurer.
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