Memorial Day Ceremony: Highlight Of Weekend In Croton

CROTON-ON-HUDSON, NY — The upcoming Memorial Day service in Croton is part of a nearly 160-year tradition that pays tribute to military personnel who lost their lives in service to their country.

The village's Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. May 29 at Veterans Corner, Old Post Road South, Cleveland Drive and Radnor Avenue.

Other events that weekend:

• Community Blood Drive, Saturday, May 27, 2023 - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Drive

The New York Blood Center will host the drive at 171 Cleveland Drive. Appointments preferred, but walk-ins welcome if drive capacity permits. To sign up, call 1-800-933-2566 or register online.

One of the region's most moving — and visible — events takes place in Rockland County.

Memorial Day watch fires sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans of America are held annually throughout the county to remember soldiers who are in service abroad and the troops who didn't return from war. The watch fires will be lit at 11:30 p.m. May 29 and burn for 24 hours at four locations:

• Bowline Point Park in Haverstraw
• Eugene Levy Memorial Park on Route 45 in Pomona
• The top of Clausland Mountain in Orangeburg
• The east end of the Piermont Pier

Anyone wishing to retire flags can do so at any of the locations. A ceremony will be held at each of the four locations.

Memorial Day Weekend is also the unofficial kickoff to summer in the Hudson Valley. Here's something else to do on the weekend: May 28 is Hudson Valley Resident Free Day at DIA:Beacon