Community Corner

Town Hosts Memorial Day Parade

Event concludes with ceremony in Village Cemetery

The town celebrated Memorial Day with a parade and memorial service Monday morning. 

The parade began at Canton Intermediate School and featured veterans, the town of Canton Volunteer Fire and EMS Department, scout groups, the Canton Lions Club, church groups and more.

The parade made its way to Collinsville, where a service was held in Village Cemetery.

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Emceed by U.S. Army Veteran Mitch Bialicki, it featured prayers by the Rev. John McHugh of St. Patrick Church, placement of a wreath on a Civil War monument, performances by the Canton High School Band, taps and more.

Students Bradley Connolly, Alexa Huff, Emily Kuhlberg and Matthew Bangs read from famous selections including “The Gettysburg Address,” “Flanders Field” and “America’s Reply."

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Tim LeGeyt, lifelong resident, former schoolteacher and current state representative, was the featured speaker and urged participants to remember those who served, giving specific examples of several from Canton.

"On this Memorial Day, we stop to be reminded by these gravestones and these flags that day by day and year by year, our continued life and prosperity are a gift to us from them — one that we have not earned but instead one that they, through their selfless and patriotic efforts, have bestowed upon us with amazing grace.”

LeGeyt added that the “valiant heroes” are more than names etched in stone or listed on a web site.

“Each of them had hopes, made plans, lived among us, loved family and friends and probably never intended to be honored as the are today but honored they are and remembered they shall be," he said. 


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