Spa City seeks volunteers for a committee

SARATOGASPRINGS, N.Y.>> The 2017Memorial Day parade is set to take place Thursday, May 25, but it’s unclear what the route will be.

“We’re putting a committee together. ... That’s what we did last year, and the committee determined that they wanted to change the route so that it could end up in Greenridge Cemetery,” said Mayor Joanne Yepsen. “We also get a lot of input from our Police Department, regarding safety and the proper routes, so they approved the route we used last year.”

Traditionally the parade takes place on Broadway, followed by a ceremony to honor fallen vet-

erans.

“We got mixed reviews,” said Yepsen, about last year’s parade route. “Some people really liked it, and other people felt it was a missed opportunity to have something on Broadway. But [the parade] has been going on a long time and itwas always on Broadway, and I think when you do change it you always get mixed reviews. So, we’re going to evaluate all that now with our new committee.”

On Monday, Yepsen invites anyone interested in serving on the committee to attend a meeting at her City Hall office at 1 p.m. Anyone that cannot make the meeting can call Deputy Mayor Meg Kelly — (518) 587-3550, Ext. 2523.

“We’re very eager to get more help; people that might want to serve on the committee,” Yepsen said. “The parade committee will work with our city’s departments, but will also determine the parade route and plan the ceremony at the end of the parade.”

The city’s always looking for more marchers, bands and floats, so the public’s encouraged to call Meg Kelly for involvement.

“I do feel strongly that we honor our veterans, so we always are looking to find the best event we can,” said Yepsen.

President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the birthplace of Memorial Day— anational holiday to honor fallen veterans — in May 1966. For several years, Saratoga Springs has held its parade on a Thursday because floats and bands throughout the state are in high demand around Memorial Day.

“The whole point of the parade is to remember those we’ve lost and to continue to honor those who are no longer here, but for me it’s also about supporting those who are serving,” Yepsen said.