Granville has Memorial Day parade, ceremony
By Erik Pekar, Town Historian
Granville’s Memorial Day parade and ceremony took place on Monday, May 30. The morning was sunny, with some passing clouds. It was a perfect day for a parade. Between 9 and 9:30 a.m., the participants in the parade started to assemble in the vicinity of Gemini Fitness. The paraders entered formation at about 9:56 a.m., and which time a Granville police car entered its position to lead the parade.
At 10 a.m., the police car began to lead the way down Main Street, letting any potential traffic further down the street know that the parade was ready, and to turn off the street. The Legion Riders began to move forward, and they were followed by another police car.
Next were marchers from the Falvey-Fringi Post of the VFW, followed by the Auxiliary of the Granville Post of the American Legion.
Following them was Paul Labas driving his white 1967 Ford Galaxie 500 convertible, giving John “Hector” Norton a ride in style to the ceremony.
They were followed by the Granville High School Senior Band, the Cub Scouts, the VFW float, a few VFW army trucks, other military vehicles, and some Little League players. It is unknown why the players were sent out after the trucks instead of before.
True to tradition, at the end of the Granville Memorial Day parade were the fire trucks. Granville Engine and Hose 282 and 281 were first, followed by an ambulance of the Granville Rescue Squad, the Wells Volunteer Fire Department’s yellow fire truck, two fire trucks from the Penrhyn Engine and Hose of Middle Granville and, last but not least, a truck from North Granville Fire.
The ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park started about 10:30. The emcee was Jerry Austin of Granville Post 323, American Legion. Several activities were done to start the ceremony, including a brief prayer, a playing of a musical piece, the 21-gun salute, and the playing of “Taps.”
Matt Hicks, Granville town supervisor, recited a speech regarding “noble” men, who served not only themselves but their fellow men and country.
Mayor Labas followed by giving a speech about Granville’s contribution to the World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and the armed forces since then. He gave mention of several families who served in World War II, including his own relatives, the Labas family, who had five sons serve in the war. He also gave a shout-out to John “Hector” Norton, terming him the last surviving World War II veteran from Granville; to this writer’s knowledge Labas is correct. He concluded by asking people to reflect on those who served, and those who gave their all. “Please take the time to read the names on the monuments,” said Labas, “… some gave their time, some of them their lives … take a moment to think of what they gave for us to be free.”
Darrell T. Wilson spoke after Labas. He spoke of Memorial Day, noting that he didn’t have to reiterate what the day was for since everyone in Granville already knew. He emphasized the small-town connection of Granville, and how he found the area and came to stay here. He noted that small towns contribute more to the armed forces than the larger cities, adding that “the strength of America is in its small towns.”
Jerry Austin gave closing remarks, and the Senior Band played a final musical piece. Austin thanked everyone for coming to the parade and ceremony. After that, most left, some lingering around to talk to friends or to take it all in. By noon, the park was empty again.
There was a good showing of people at the parade and ceremony. Good weather and good spirits certainly helped. It just goes to show that, when it comes to those who served our country, Granville does not forget.
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The telling of the life story of Granville merchant John “Hector” Norton, in our “Granville Then and Now” column of May 26, has garnered many a positive comment and surely has brought back fond memories for many in the Granville area. Norton is among the last living of the Granville merchants of the 1960s, as well as the group of people who were involved in the business, community and civic endeavors of Granville in that era.
Taking a trip to the Main Street of the 1960s, down “memory lane” for some of our readers, the merchants of Granville’s Main Street business district then included Manning Miller of Goldberg’s; Fred Schaffer of Ginsburg’s and John’s Five and Dime; William and John Norton of Wilson’s, Charles Cramer of L.E. Roberts Jewelry, Ralph Rudd Jr. of R.E. Rudd appliances and hardware; R. Brereton Jones of Lasher’s Pharmacy, Bob Brown and John Belemjian of the Granville Pharmacy, Romaine Bascom of Bascom’s Variety Store, Lillian Yurdin of the Bert E. Yurdin newsroom, Willard Reynolds of Reynolds’ Hat Shop, Malcom Shannon and John Hughes, of M&J Home Service; Horace Scott of Scott Furniture, William Grastorf of Grastorf Press, Art Tamer of the Granville Liquor Store; Ed Barnes, appliance and TV repair; Robert Whitcomb and Frank Bertram of Whitcomb Hardware; Lawrence Weinberg of S. Weinberg hardware; Phil Edwards of Edwards Market.
The owners of the offices, shops and other businesses of Main Street of that era included Jeanette Caruso, of the Ritz Diner and bowling alley; Andy Labas, of Andy’s Barber Shop, John and Otis Andrus, of the Andrus Agencies; Jack and Lucretia Pacyna, of Harry’s Restaurant; Angelo Scott Jr., of Scotties; Millie Hicks of Mil’s Lunch; Alan Roberts of the Speed Wash laundromat; John Taft of Hayes’ Diner; Alan Vanderminden of his insurance agency; Elliott Barrow of the Barrow Agency; Albert Berkowitz and Phil Berke of the Berkowitz and Berke law firm; Steve Godlewski of the American House Grill.
Besides Norton, of those named above who were involved with Main Street in the 1960s, the others still living are Ron Barrett, manager of the Grand Union; John Belemjian, co-owner of the Granville Pharmacy; and Phil Berke, attorney. All surviving have retired. The last working in their respective businesses of the 1960s out of any named above was Albert Berkowitz; at the time of his death in 2008, he was within several months of reaching 75 continuous years of having an attorney’s office in Granville.
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A couple weeks ago, the banners of the Slate Valley Military and Honor Banner project made their return to the scenery of Granville’s main thoroughfares. The honor banners, popular since their introduction last spring, were hung up the week of May 23. The later placement of the banners was due to the rainy weather experienced in the area in mid-May.
Those who looked for banners ordered since Veterans Day of last year won’t find them, for now. Due to an ordering issue, and the busy success of the company making the banners, the new set of banners weren’t shipped in time for the banners to be put up before Memorial Day.
However, there are talks to remedy this issue. Charlie King of the banner committee noted his intention in the May 26 issue to ask the village board at their June 6 meeting to leave the banners up all summer until after Veterans Day.
The “up all summer” proposal, if accepted, would lead to problems. The banners were taken down last year for the summer to prevent complacency, so the banners wouldn’t lose their special significance among Granville people. Leaving the banners up for the entire five months between the Memorial Day and Veterans Day would likely create a “tune out” effect among the average person, that would result in the banners being seen but not noticed, becoming just another part of the scenery of Granville in the summer.
The best compromise regarding keeping the banners up in Granville is repeating last year’s schedule. The honor banners would stay up until a week or two after July 4, Independence Day. At that time, the village DPW would take them down, and hang up the decorative banners that were used last summer.
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