Each year, the VFW honors and helps veterans through “Buddy” Poppies. Assembled by disabled and needy veterans, the proceeds of the flowers are used to provide them with financial assistance. The poppy was adopted as the official memorial flower in 1922, after the VFW conducted its first poppy distribution. The inspiration for the Poppies is the poem “In Flanders Field” by John McCrae.
At Wagner-Good VFW Post 216, the first Poppies of the year were purchased in recognition of Memorial Day by VFW Commander Dennis Carter, Hamburg Police Chief Pedro Rivera, Post 216 Poppy Queen Rebecca Young and Mayor Peter Kalibisco.
The Wagner-Good VFW Post 216 also would like to announce that the post will conduct a Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30 in the Borough. The parade will form at Second and State Streets, at 8:30 a.m. At 9 a.m., a ceremony will be held at the Veterans Memorial.
After the ceremony, the parade will form up and proceed up State Street to Fourth Street, to the Greenwood cemetery on N. Fifth Street for a ceremony at Greenwood and the Catholic cemeteries. The parade will then reform and proceed South on Third Street to Pine Street, to St. John’s cemetery.
A ceremony will be conducted at St. John’s at 10:15 a.m. Master Bag Piper Robert Mitchell will perform at all three sites along with the Hamburg High School band and soloists. There will be a bell ringing as the roll of Honor is read at St. John’s.
Following the parade, an open house with food and refreshments will be held at both the VFW Post at Fourth and State Streets and the American Legion Post at Church and Franklin Streets.
All residents are invited to join in the parade and walk along in honor of those who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
In the event of rain, a ceremony will be held at the National Guard Armory located on N. Fifth Street, at 9:30 a.m.
