Memorial Day Salute Parade Awards Announced

Submitted by the Memorial Day Salute Parade Committee

The Memorial Day Salute Parade Committee announces the judges’ awards for the Saturday, May 24th, parade. The theme for the 27th Annual Memorial Day Parade was “A Grateful Community Says ‘Thanks’ To Our Veterans.” Based upon this theme, the judges chose several groups in the parade that best represented this year’s theme. Richard Kemmis, 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 City School District Universal Pre Kindergarten Program. Their float was very colorful in red, white, and blue, and gave a very plain 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 Towpath Volunteers Fife and Drum Corp from Macedon, New York. It is their first appearance in the Memorial Day Salute Parade. The Towpath Volunteers is a very strong band, possibly one of the largest fife and drum bands in the country with over 40 members.

There was a tie for the “Theme Trophy.” Grace Bible Baptist Church Youth Group had an extensive entry. They had their church bus decorated as a military tank, a stilt walking Uncle Sam, a nurse corp, and various people dressed in the several branches of the military service. Oswego Industries Day Habitation Program had a tractor-trailer decorated emphasizing the various military services, and their consumers expressing their thanks. The judges could not decide which group was the very best, therefore, the tie.

There were a large number of children’s groups in the parade, so the parade committee awarded three trophies in the category of Children’s Groups. The first place in the “Children Awards” was awarded to the Calvary Baptist Church Bell Choir. Taking second place was the Central Square Middle School Marching Band. Taking third place in the children’s category was Off Broadway Dance Studio. Several other groups were also in contention for these awards.

Three trophies were given by the “Fulton Veteran’s Council” for which veteran’s groups only are eligible. Winning first place in the Veteran’s group was the Merton R. Kemp Detachment Marine Corps Color Guard. Winning second in the Veteran’s category was Fulton Veterans’ Council Color Guard. Taking third place was the Fulton VFW Color Guard, Post 569 Veterans of Foreign Wars.

The judges for the parade were the presidents of the four Fulton Service Clubs. The president of the Fulton Rotary Sunrise Club is Diane Cooper-Currier, president of the Fulton Kiwanis Club is Megan Falanga, president of the Fulton Lion’s Club is Brett Tallents, but Lion Steve Bero substituted, and the president of the Fulton Rotary Club is Steve Osborne and Rotarian Cassandra Lawson replaced him. The Fulton Veteran’s Council judges were led by a previous Veteran of the Year, Warren Jenkins, assisted by his wife, Arlene Jenkins and Michael Dunn, President of the Fulton Veteran’s Council.

The Parade Co-Chairpersons were Richard Kemmis and Cathy Trowbridge. Parade stewards were: Cathy Trowbridge, John Kruk, Maggie Austin, Peg Donnelly, Patrick Waite, Ellen Nowyj, Nancy Cavalier, Mike Delorme, Dale Currier, Curt Griswold, and Jim LaBoda.

The Memorial Day Salute Committee is made up of representatives of the four Fulton service clubs and representatives of the Fulton Veteran’s Council. They are: John Kruk and Tom Mirabito of Kiwanis, Frank Kehoe and Larry Macner from the Fulton Veteran’s Council, Carol Vescio, Cathy Trowbridge, and Ro Kemmis from the Fulton Sunrise Rotary Club, David Guyer, Steve Bero, Jim Sokolowski from the Fulton Lion’s Club, Judy Young and Richard Kemmis from the Fulton Rotary Club, and Sheree Griswold and Jim Myers, as interested citizens. This year’s Memorial Day Salute Chairman was David Guyer, Secretary Richard Kemmis, and Tom Mirabito, Treasurer.

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