The 25th annual Celebrate/Commemorate Weekend is underway in the Waterloo, the Birthplace of Memorial Day.
Friday night events included, the Henry C. Wells Award Ceremony. The Waterloo Library & Historical Society, the sponsor of the community service award, presented it to Gina Suffredini.
Suffredini is a Waterloo native. She was a speech and language therapist in the school district for 30 years before retiring. She was named the Waterloo Teacher of the Year by the Waterloo Education Association.
The award is named after the 19th-century Waterloo druggist who is thought of as one of the founders of Memorial Day, along with former Union General John B. Murray.
In Lafayette Park Friday Night, people danced and enjoyed the the band Flint Creek. Vendors opened for business.
Also last night was the American Civil War Memorial Illumination and Remembrance Ceremony. The ceremony and the memorial pays tribute the citizens of Waterloo that were killed during the Civil War. Fifty-nine men from Waterloo died in the Civil War.
For the first time, the Daughters of Union Veterans of Civil War (DUVCW) presented the DUVCW Preservationist Award. Waterloo resident David Duprey was given the award.
All Photos by Greg Cotterill, Finger Lakes Daily News.
The celebration in Waterloo continues Saturday and Sunday and Monday, then Waterloo commemorates Memorial Day on the traditional date, May 30th.
CELEBRATE COMMEMORATE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 2024
FRIDAY, MAY 24th
12:00 – 5:00 National Memorial Day Museum – Open E. Main Street
10:00 – 3:00 Display Set Up – Waterloo Rotary Club ExtravaCANza 2024 Waterloo Community Center
6:00 – 8:00 Flint Creek Stage, Lafayette Park
6:30 – 7:30 Henry C. Welles Award Reception – Waterloo Library & Historical Society
Honoring: Gina Suffredini
8:00 American Civil War Memorial Illumination & Remembrance American Civil War Memorial
SATURDAY, MAY 25th
7:00 – 10:00am Breakfast Buffet Waterloo VFW
7:00 5k Race Packet Pick Up & Registration Waterloo High School Complex
8:30 Tribute to the Fallen 5K Race Waterloo High School Complex
9:00 – 5:00 Civil War Living History Camp per Camp Schedules Oak Island
10:00 12, 2, & 4 Finger Lakes Water Adventures Boat Tours $ Oak Island
10:00 – 5:00 Arts & Craft Show Lafayette Park
10:00 – 5:00 ExtravaCANza 2024 benefitting area food pantries Community Center, Oak Street
11:00 Celebrate Parade Main Street
12:00 – 6:30 Live Entertainment! See Entertainment Schedule Stage, Lafayette Park
12:00 – 3:00 M’Clintock House Open E. Williams Street
12:00, 1:00, 2:00 Ranger Led Discussions M’Clintock House
12:00 – 5:00 National Memorial Day Museum Open E. Main Street
12:30 – 5:00 Kids’ Korner Activity Tent Williams Street
12:30 – 3:30 Horse & Wagon Rides through Village Lafayette Park
4:00 Pizza Eating Contest! Lafayette Park Stage
9:30 Fireworks, By Pyrotecnico! Oak Island
SUNDAY, May 26th
8:00 – 11:00am Breakfast Buffet American Legion
9:00 – 3:00 Civil War Living History Camp per Camp Schedules Oak Island
9:00 – 3:00 Wheels on Main Street Car Show Main Street
10:00 – 4:00 Arts & Craft Show Lafayette Park
10:00 – 4:00 Kids’ Korner Activity Tent Williams Street
10:00, 12, 2 & 4 Finger Lakes Water Adventures Boat Tour $ Oak Island
10:00 – 3:00 ExtravaCANza 2024 benefitting area food pantries Community Center, Oak Street
12:00 – 3:00 M’Clintock House Open E. Williams Street
12:00, 1:00, 2:00 Ranger Led Discussions M’Clintock House
12:00 – 5:00 National Memorial Day Museum Open E. Main Street
12:00 – 3:30 Horse & Wagon Rides through Village Lafayette Park
MONDAY, May 27th
8:00 – 10:00 Memorial Day Veterans Bike Rally Registration Waterloo VFW
10:00 Bike Rally – Kick Stands up! Waterloo VFW
12:00 – 5:00 National Memorial Day Museum Open E. Main Street
THURSDAY, May 30th
9:00 – 11:00 Military Services conducted at village cemeteries:
St. Mary’s, Maple Grove, & Elisha Williams
12:00 – 5:00 National Memorial Day Museum Open Main Street
6:00 Memorial Day Parade Main Street
6:30 Memorial Day Ceremonies Lafayette Park
Featured Speaker: Vincent J. (Jim) Troiola
Past National Commander American Legion 22-2
