Patrick Kelly named Grand Marshal of Community Memorial Day Parade
HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. » Hoosick Post #40 American Legion announced that Hoosick Falls resident Patrick Kelly has been named Grand Marshal of the 2022 Community Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30, in Hoosick Falls.
Kelly was born May 19, 1965, in Bennington, VT. In February 1985 he enlisted in the United States Army and after basic training at Fort Sill, OK, was stationed at Fort Hood in Texas where he worked in BNS2 as a driver of an M577 command vehicle. In Nov. 1986, SPC Kelly was assigned to the 2-78FA Battalion and sent to Bamberg, Germany where he worked in the special weapons section during the Cold War. While in Germany, SPC Kelly was promoted to SGT and received many awards for his leadership.
After SGT Kelly’s active duty tour was completed, he returned home to Hoosick Falls. In September of 1992, SGT Kelly enlisted in the Vermont National Guard in Bennington and trained as an M1 tank crewman. SGT Kelly enjoyed his time on the
tanks where he worked as a gunner, driver, and tank commander during training missions at Fort Drum and at the Ethan Allen Firing Range.
On June 17, 1995, Kelly married Julia Kane of Bennington. They lived in Hoosick Falls, and later had four children, Shaelynn, Emma, Owen, and Sophie. In September. 2004, SSG Kelly left the Vermont National Guard and took an active duty position in the 42nd Infantry Division in Troy, where he worked as a Human Resources NCO.
SSG Kelly deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 with the 27th Brigade for Operation Enduring Freedom. During SSG Kelly’s deployment, he worked with the command on several missions. In 2014, SSG Kelly was offered a job working at Joint Force Headquarters in Latham, where he worked as an operations controller.
In June of 2021, SSGT Kelly retired after more than 33 years of service. In his retirement, Kelly works for Hoosick Falls Central School as a bus driver, enjoys time with his family, and is active in the Hoosick Post #40 American Legion.
The American Legion invites the community to help in the placing of flags on the graves of veterans on Saturday, May 28, 2022, to meet at 10 a.m. at the post.
Memorial Day ceremonies will begin at 8 a.m. at the flagpole in Wood Park. The American Legion will then offer Memorial Day rites stepping off at 8:15 a.m. from the corner of Main St. and Wilder Ave. and March to the Shop Bridge to honor men of the Navy who lost their lives at sea. The Auxiliary will offer a prayer, the Legion will fire a volley, and taps will be sounded. The Legion will honor the dead of the Civil War at Monument Park, located at the junction of Classic and High Streets the Auxiliary will offer a prayer, the Legion will fire a volley, and taps will be sounded. The Legion will then assemble at the World War I and Veterans Memorial located in Wood Memorial Park. Wreaths will be placed at WWI, WW II, Korean, and Vietnam monuments. The wreaths will be placed by the American Legion Auxiliary after a brief prayer.
The parade, under the direction of the American Legion, will assemble at 9:15 a.m. and step off sharply at 10.
The American Legion invites the community to join them to help place flags on graves of veterans in the local cemeteries. They will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 28 at the post located at 150 Main Street, Hoosick Falls, NY, and proceed to the local cemeteries to place flags at veteran’s gravesites.