Memorial Day Weekend 2024: Events, Parades In Rivertowns

RIVERTOWNS, NY — The upcoming Memorial Day events in the Rivertowns are part of a nearly 160-year tradition that pays tribute to military personnel who lost their lives in service to their country.

There are several events scheduled around town and ways for residents to remember and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Ardsley: American Legion Post 458 Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade, May 27, 10 a.m. Parade will assemble at 9:30 a.m. on Park Ave. at Ashford Ave. The parade will step off at 10 a.m. and will proceed east on Ashford Ave. to Pascone Park, next to the middle school. At the conclusion of services in Pascone Park, refreshments will be served. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Ardsley Firehouse at 10 a.m.

Dobbs Ferry: Memorial Day Parade, May 27, 11 a.m. The Memorial Service will take place at Dobbs Ferry High School followed by a parade to the waterfront.

Elmsford: 94th Annual Memorial Day Parade & Service, May 27, 10:30 a.m. Parade starts at Legion Park on E. Main St., goes west on Main St. to S. Stone Ave. to Village Hall. Grand Marshal is William Zimkin who served in U.S. Navy. Service next to Village Hall after parade, under a tent, rain or shine. Refreshments after service. If parade is canceled due to rain, the service will be held at 11 a.m.

Fairview Fire Department will hold their annual Memorial Day Service, taking place on Monday, May 27, 11 a.m. This year's celebration consists of a ceremony at the Greenburgh Police Department at 11 a.m., followed by their annual community barbecue at Fairview Fire Headquarters.

Hartsdale: Annual Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade will take place on Monday, May 27, 10 a.m. Veterans' Memorial at DeSanti Plaza in front of the Hartsdale Train Station. Together with the Town Veterans Committee, town leaders, local Scout Troops, and music by a marching band, Greenburgh firefighters and apparatus from Hartsdale, Fairview, and Greenville Fire Departments will lead a parade down East Hartsdale Ave. to the Central Ave. firehouse (Hartsdale Fire Station #1). Line up on East Hartsdale Ave. to watch the parade. Ice cream at the firehouse afterwards.

Hastings-on-Hudson: May 26, 2 p.m. The Westchester Chordsmen will sing the National Anthem in honor of proud member and friend The Honorable Judge Joseph Anthony DiSalvo. Grand Marshal Peter Greg Muraik. Poppy Girl Penny Snyder. Find out more here.

Irvington: Memorial Day Ceremonies on May 27 at 10 a.m. The ceremonies will begin at the Irvington Veterans Memorial Plaza on Main St. followed by a procession down the Aqueduct to Memorial Park.

Below are some other events and parades in Westchester County:

The Westchester County Memorial Service will take on May 24, at 11 a.m., at the Lasdon Park Veterans Memorial in Katonah. Livestream will be available here.

Bedford:

• Bedford Hills Parade, May 27, 9 a.m. Ceremony starts at Babbitt/Payne.
• Katonah Parade, May 27, 10 a.m. Ceremony starts at Katonah Fire Department.
• Bedford Village Parade, May 27, 11 a.m. Ceremony starts at Seminary/Pound Ridge Rd.
• Katonah American Legion: May 27, noon - 3 p.m. Cookout.

Briarcliff Manor: The American Legion/Briarcliff Manor Fire Department Memorial Day Parade will take place on May 27. Parade will assemble on Pleasantville Rd. & North State Rd. at 11:30 a.m. Kickoff at noon. Will go through the Tree Streets to Law Park, where Memorial services will take place. In case of inclement weather, services will be held at the Law Park Pavilion at 12:15 p.m.

Bronxville: Memorial Day Parade and Ceremonies, May 27. The ceremony will commence at 8:30 a.m. in front of Leonard Morange Square on Parkway Road followed by the parade to the Bronxville School. The parade will be led by veteran and 50+ year village resident John Priesing as Grand Marshal.

Buchanan: Tri-Village (Buchanan, Montrose, Verplanck) Memorial Day Parade, May 27, 11 a.m. The parade will step off at 11 a.m. and proceed down Tate Ave. through the circle to Westchester Ave. and end at the Buchanan Pavilion. A ceremony will then take place followed by refreshments.

Cortlandt: Ceremony May 24, 1 p.m. at Muriel H. Morabito Community Center, located at 29 Westbrook Drive, Cortlandt Manor. RSVP to Karen Grexa at [email protected]

Croton-on-Hudson: May 27, 11 a.m.. The American Legion Fox-Eklof Post 505 Memorial Day Ceremony, Veterans Corner, 173-179 Cleveland Drive. (In case of inclement weather, Gym of the Holy Name of Mary Church, 120 Grand St.)

Golden's Bridge: May 27, 10 a.m. Fire Department Community Parade, followed by special memorial wreath ceremony, refreshments.

Harrison: Memorial Day parade, May 27. Kicks off at 10 a.m. in Ma Riis Park and marches to the Veterans Building for a ceremony and lunch.

Larchmont: Annual Memorial Day Parade on May 23, 7 p.m. Parade route: Line up at Chatsworth Ave. Bridge, along Palmer Ave., down Larchmont Ave., end at Larchmont Village Hall. Complimentary hot dogs. Memorial Day Wreath Service at flagpoles.

Lewisboro: May 27, Memorial Day Service. Parade kicks off 12:15 p.m. on Lake Shore Drive, Truesdale Lake, south end. Services at Town House, located at 11 Main St. in South Salem. Find details here.

Village of Mamaroneck: American Legion Post 90’s Memorial Day Parade and Observances will kick off at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 26. The parade will assemble in front of Mamaroneck Avenue School, run down Mamaroneck Ave. and into the village, make a right onto Prospect Ave., and go up the hill to American Legion Post 90, located at 189 Prospect Ave., where a ceremony of remembrance will be held.

Mount Kisco: Memorial Day Parade, May 30, 7 p.m. Main St. Refreshments will be served after parade at American Legion Hall.

Mount Vernon:

• NAACP-Mount Vernon Branch 2161 Memorial Day Parade. May 27, 8 a.m. Foodtown Parking Lot, 31 E. Prospect Ave.
• Mount Vernon will be holding its Memorial Day Parade on May 27, 10 a.m. It will kick off at Park Ave. & 1st Street, turn right onto W. 3rd St., then turn right onto S. 4th Ave., continuing on Gramatan Ave., ending at Hartley Park. Parade canceled.
• Saint Paul's Church National Historic Site will hold its annual Memorial Day Commemoration on May 27, with a ceremony starting at 11 a.m, followed by a guided tour of the historic cemetery, placing flowers and flags, telling the stories of veterans buried there, with a focus on Private George J. Autorino who served in the U.S. Marine Corps in the era of the Vietnam War. At 1:30 p.m., there will be a talk about the soldiers of the Revolutionary War by historian Eric Chandler and a 3 p.m. music/history presentation by Robert Cohen, "Songs of the Civil War."

New Castle: May 27, 10:30 a.m. Victory Corners Monument for the Laying of the Wreath; 11 a.m. Memorial Day Parade will step off from Ridgewood Terrace at Bedford Road. Details here.

New Rochelle:

• On Saturday, May 25, the City of New Rochelle will host both a waterside ceremony at Hudson Park and a remembrance ceremony at Memorial Plaza. The events are presented by the City of New Rochelle Veterans Advisory Committee. The waterside ceremony will take place at 9:30 a.m. in Hudson Park. The remembrance at Memorial Plaza will begin at 11 a.m., at the intersection of Memorial Highway and Main St. The keynote speaker will be NRPD Officer Deivy Martinez.
• On Sunday, May 26, the New Rochelle American Legion Post 8, VFW Post 439 and the United Veterans Memorial and Patriotic Association of New Rochelle will have a Decoration of Graves Service and Ceremony at Beechwoods Cemetery. Service will start at 10 a.m., near the front gate flagpole. 3,000 flags will be distributed to be placed at the veterans' graves in Beechwoods Cemetery and Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. For additional information or to volunteer, send an email to this address.
• Monday, May 27, American Legion Post 8 will be holding their Memorial Day service at 112 North Ave., at 11 a.m. The keynote speaker will be New Rochelle Fire Department Commander and veteran, Andrew Sandor. Veteran tributes to Lee Fadem and Dr. Michael Dunn are scheduled to take place. New Rochelle High School student Nia Gooden, who was the 2024 American Legion Oratorical Contest champion, will also speak. Live music and a bbq will follow.

North Salem: May 27. Parade attendees should arrive at Oakridge Rd. and Route 116 by 9:45 a.m. Ceremony to start at 10 a.m. at Westchester Exceptional Children's School on Route 22. Due to potential rain, the Memorial Day celebration has been moved to the Croton Falls Firehouse, starting at 10 a.m.

Ossining: Central Committee of Organized War Veterans of the Town of Ossining Annual Parade, May 27, 9:30 a.m. Step off at Croton Ave. and Calam Ave. and head towards Nelson Park for the ceremony.

Pelham: Pelham Civic Association Memorial Day Parade. The parade has been canceled due to predicted inclement weather. Instead, there will be a full ceremony on May 27, at noon. The Manor Club, 1023 Esplanade.

Pleasantville: Memorial Day Parade/Ceremony on May 27, 10 a.m. with a parade down Bedford Rd. followed by a ceremony at the Memorial Plaza gazebo.

Port Chester: Memorial Day Ceremony & Parade at Veterans Memorial Park, located at intersection of N. Regent St. and Westchester Ave., 11 a.m. The parade will follow its route east down Westchester Ave. towards New Broad St. at the conclusion of the ceremony.

Pound Ridge: Memorial Day Parade, May 27, noon. The parade kicks off at Pound Ridge Elementary School, marches down Westchester Ave., and ends at Burial Hill, where there will be a brief ceremony. Park at the Town House or Town Park, then line Westchester Ave. Performances by Bearcats Jazz Band, Mount Kisco Scottish Pipes & Drums, and Saints of Swing. Long-time Pound Ridge resident and Fire Department Board Fire Commissioner, Eddie Trail, will be the keynote speaker. Afterwards, there will be a complimentary BBQ at the Town Park, courtesy of the Pound Ridge PBA and The Market.

Rye:

• City of Rye: Rye American Legion Post Auxiliary Memorial Day Parade, May 27, 9:30 a.m. Begins at train station, down Purchase St., ends at City Hall. Will feature Legionnaires, marching bands, cyclists, classic cars, Rye's Boys and Girls Scouts, Rye school groups, local government officials. Ceremony to follow. American Legion Post 128 Commander Fred de Barros will lead the ceremony. Mayor Josh Cohn, County Executive George Latimer, NYS Senator Shelley Mayer and NYS Assemblyman Steve Otis will offer welcoming remarks and greetings. More details here.
• Playland, May 27; 10 a.m. Beach and pool open. 11 a.m. - noon: Park opens & Strolling Entertainers begin performance at Fountain Plaza; Noon: Memorial Day Ceremony at Fountain Plaza featuring the Mount Vernon Marching Band; Kiddyland shows with face painting, air brush tattooing, entertainment at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m. Fireworks at 9 p.m.

Scarsdale: Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, May 27, 10 a.m., Village Center. The ceremony will commence in Chase Park at 10 a.m., followed by the parade which will begin around 10:30 a.m. The route will proceed up Popham Rd, turn onto Church Lane, then return to Chawe Park via Crane Rd.

Somers: Memorial Day, May 27. Parade led by Somers MS Fife & Drum Corp, starts at 9:45 a.m. Assemble at 9:30 a.m. in Bailey Park (junction of Rtes. 100 & 202 across from the Elephant Hotel). Parade canceled. Ceremony at 10 a.m. at Veterans Memorial in Ivandell Cemetery (Rte. 202). The Fife & Drum Corp will perform as you enter the ceremony. Bring an umbrella.

Tarrytown & Sleepy Hollow: May 27, 10 a.m. Memorial Day Parade begins on Main Street in Tarrytown, will continue down Rt. 9 to Beekman Ave. through downtown Sleepy Hollow, and will head back to Patriots Park where it will conclude with a memorial ceremony.

Valhalla: American Legion Post 1038's annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony, May 27. The parade will step off at 9:30 a.m. from Westlake Drive, behind Valhalla Methodist Church, and proceed south on Columbus Ave. The ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the Village Green gazebo. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will move to the Community Center, with a decision announced the evening before. After the ceremony, enjoy hot dogs, ice cream, and refreshments at American Legion Post 1038. Find more information here.

White Plains: Annual community parade and ceremony on Monday, May 27. The parade will begin on Church St. and Main St., proceed to North Broadway and will end at the Rural Cemetery, North Broadway. Parade starts at 10 a.m. The parade will be followed by a memorial service at the Rural Cemetery, beginning at 1 1a.m., at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument.

Yorktown: Memorial Day Parade, May 27, 11 a.m. Gather at Yorktown Town Hall at 10:40 a.m. 11 a.m. Service at Memorials at Town Hall around Patriot Garden. The parade will start at 11:15 a.m. in the Town Hall Patriot Garden and end at the Jack DeVito Veterans Memorial Field & Track, for speeches and a ceremony.

Yonkers: Memorial Day Ceremony, May 27, 9 a.m. Ceremonial Courtroom, City Hall, 4th Floor, 40 S. Broadway; Memorial Day Parade, May 30, 6 p.m. along McLean Ave. Parade will step off at Stilwell Park and end at the Charles N. Bajart, Jr. American Legion Post at 840 McLean Ave.

The history of Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, dates back to 1868, when Gen. John A. Logan called for a day of remembrance to honor the Northern lives lost amid battle during the Civil War that had ended just a few years earlier, according to History.com. As time passed, more and more people called it Memorial Day, and it became a federal holiday in 1971.

Waterloo, New York, is considered the birthplace of Memorial Day. The town’s observance on May 5, 1866, predated Logan’s call for a day of remembrance. Local businesses closed and residents decorated the graves of fallen soldiers with flowers and flags.

Until World War I, the holiday honored only those soldiers who died while fighting for the Union in the War, as Southern states honored their war dead on a separate day. After the 116,000-plus American deaths in World War I, the tradition changed to remember all who have died while serving in the military.

Every year, a national moment of remembrance is held at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day. No matter where they are or what they’re doing, Americans are asked to pause for one minute in silence to remember military personnel who have given their lives in service to their country. According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, the midday time was chosen because it’s a time when many Americans will be enjoying their freedoms on a national holiday.

As the observance has changed over the years, many families also use Memorial Day as an occasion to visit local cemeteries and leave flowers at the graves of family members, regardless of whether they served in the military.

If there any Memorial Day events in Westchester County to be added to the list, please send an email to [email protected].