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[Photo by SuperSource Media LLC.]
SARATOGA SPRINGS — May 24 marks the second annual Memorial Day parade hosted by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
The route begins at 6:30 p.m. with staging on North Broadway, proceeding through the center of city, and finish in Congress Park where a ceremony will be at the memorial. There will be performances by the Avant Guard Alumni Drumline, two marching band performances by Oppenheim Ephratah St. Johnsville High School and Corinth High School and the Racing City Chorus.
The Disabled American Veterans Marcelle-Nolan Chapter 158 led the committee, which includes representatives from the American Legion Post #70, VFW Post #420, Frederick Allen Lodge #609, Mary A. Carter Temple #360, and the Veterans and Community Housing Coalition.
The parade committee selected retired Marine Major Dan Colvin, Jr. as the Grand Marshall for this year’s event. Major Dan Colvin, retired U.S. Marine Corps, enlisted in 1985 and retired in 2013. During his twenty-seven years of active service in both the Enlisted and Officer ranks, he made seven overseas deployments to areas throughout the Western Pacific and Middle East, serving in both aviation and combat arms capacities. Colvin is a member and past Chairman of the Saratoga County Veterans Business Council, as well as a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion. As a civilian, he serves as a Continuous Improvement Leader at Momentive Performance Materials in Waterford. Colvin’s personal decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars, along with multiple campaign awards.
“Hopefully going forward, what we’re trying to do, is expand the committee a little bit more and get some more local community involvement because it would be nicer if it would keep growing and taking on a life of its own,” Joe Pennell, the commander of DAV Chapter 158 said. “We want to make it more ofacommunityevent,notjusta veterans event,” he added.
In previous years, the Memorial Day parade was hosted by the Italian-American War Veterans and the Local VFW Post #420. The parade has been a tradition dating back to the 1970s and perhaps earlier according to Pennell.
Disabled American Veterans Marcelle-Nolan Chapter 158 was chartered in 1970, has over 500 members and currently serves disabled veterans and their families in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties. DAV is a non-profit organization that provides veterans help with transportation, assistance in attending medical appointments, help transitioning to civilian life and connecting vets with employment opportunities.
