by Rachel Hunter
The 2026 Gouverneur Memorial Day Observance, jointly sponsored by the Silas Wainwright VFW Post 6338 in Gouverneur and the James Maloy American Legion Post 65, was held on Monday, May 25.
The 2026 Gouverneur Memorial Day Parade lined up at 9 a.m. at Rock Island St., Gouverneur. The parade turned right onto Main Street promptly at 10 a.m., led by Village of Gouverneur Chief of Police Darren Fairbanks in GPD-411. The Gouverneur Police Department alongside the Village of Gouverneur DPW also handled traffic control throughout the 2026 Gouverneur Memorial Day Observance.
The Silas Wainwright VFW Post 6338 and James Maloy American Legion Post No. 65 Color Guard presented the colors. Other parade participants included the following: Silas Wainwright VFW Post 6338, James Maloy American Legion Post 65, Gouverneur Elks Lodge No. 2035, St. James School in Gouverneur, Gouverneur Fire Department (Truck 2), Oxbow Fire Department (Fightin’ 33), Richville Fire Department (E-12, ETA-10, and R-28), and the Gouverneur Rescue Squad (A-173), among others.
The Gouverneur Marching Wildcats, under the direction of Olivia Dearbeck, thrilled the local crowds with their 2026 show “Eye of the Wildcat.” This was the second parade of their season. The first parade was at the Theresa Memorial Day Parade. The Gouverneur Marching Wildcats will next perform at the 2026 Gouverneur Chamber of Commerce sponsored Flag Day Parade in Gouverneur on Saturday, June 13. For more info, visit www.gouverneurchamber.net.
The local dignitaries marching in the 2026 Gouverneur Memorial Day Parade included the following: St. Lawrence County Legislator District 5 Harry Smithers (R-Gouverneur), Village of Gouverneur Mayor Ron McDougall, Village of Gouverneur Deputy Mayor Charles Newvine, Village of Gouverneur Trustee Floyd McAdam, Town of Gouverneur Supervisor Dave Spilman, Jr., and Town of Gouverneur Councilman Curran Wade.
The parade continued down Main Street, and stopped at the Route 11 bridge over the Oswegatchie River for the U.S. Navy Wreath Ceremony to salute the dead, presented by Michael Webster and Michael Knowlton. The parade then made its way to Riverside Cemetery in Gouverneur for the Annual Memorial Day Observance.
The 2026 Gouverneur Memorial Day Observance was conducted by Gloria Weldon. The invocation was given by VFW Auxiliary Senior Vice President Linda McEathron. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by VFW Post 6338 Commander Roland Roderick and American Legion Post 65 Commander Jason Carvel. The Gouverneur Wildcat Band performed the national anthem, “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The band also performed “Grand Old Flag.” The crowd also enjoyed musical selections of “Amazing Grace” and “Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless The USA.”
The guest speaker was Hermon-DeKalb CSD Principal Rebecca Hocking, a U.S. Army veteran who currently serves as the PreK–12 Principal at the Hermon-DeKalb Central School.
Rebecca Hocking is an educator and school leader with a diverse background in military service and educational leadership. A 1998 graduate of Blackfoot High School, she enlisted in the United States Army as a 31L Wire Systems Installer, commonly known as a “Cable Dawg.” During her military career, she served with A Company, 327th Signal Battalion, 35th Signal Brigade at Fort Bragg; C122 Signal Battalion, 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Red Cloud, Korea; the 504th Signal Battalion at Fort Huachuca, Arizona; and the 124th Signal Battalion, 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson. She concluded her military service in 2002 to focus on raising her family. Following her service, Rebecca Hocking pursued a career in education, earning an Associate of Arts degree from Pikes Peak Community College, a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Regis University, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University. She currently serves as Principal of Hermon-DeKalb Central School, where she is dedicated to fostering student success, supporting educators, and building strong school communities.
“We've come together today to honor and remember the approximately 1.3 million service members who have died while defending our nation since the Revolutionary War,” Hocking said. “This year, our nation marks its historic 250th anniversary. Two and a half centuries of freedom did not happen by accident.
“It has survived because every generation has had brave men and women who have been willing to lay down their lives to protect and defend it. To truly honor today, I would like to take a step back and revisit some of its important history, some of the history that's brought us to this very moment today. In March, I had the privilege of visiting Mount Vernon, and while touring the historic site, I was able to stand before two witness trees.
“Arborists call them witness trees because they were alive when our nation was founded. They are the silent centennials of our history, and during the Civil War, soldiers would march up to those trees and carve their unit insignia into them, directly into the bark, leaving permanent marks as if saying, “I was here, please don't forget me.” The longing of those soldiers to be remembered and the desire to honor the fallen have created 168 years of Memorial Day tradition.
“Memorial Day was originally known as Decoration Day. The observance began around 1865 after the Civil War had ended, and people from both the North and South gathered to decorate the graves of fallen soldiers with flags and fresh leaves. The first national observance was in 1868 when General John Logan proclaimed May 30th as Decoration Day.
“It has continued to evolve, and after World War I, it became a day of remembrance for all military members who have died in conflict. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson declared the birthplace of Memorial Day to be Waterloo, New York, but it wasn't until 1971 that the Congress passed the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, which declared Memorial Day as a federal holiday. While there are many theories about the origin of Decoration Day or Memorial Day, the important truth is simple.
“We must continue to remember and honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. When George Washington was just a general, he said, “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars and how they were treated and appreciated by their nation.” Washington's words remind us that our freedom is not a self-sustaining promise.
“It's a legacy passed down by those who continue to answer the call of a nation in their time of need. Real remembrance is more than just a single day on a calendar or a long weekend every year. It is the ongoing promise to hold their stories close, to support the families that they leave behind, and to ensure the depth of their sacrifices isn't just something that we read in history books.
“For many of the people here today, these are real people, people that we know. They have a face, they have a name, they had a voice, and we will continue to carry their memories with us daily.
“Remembering them reminds us the true cost of our freedom. But how do we truly honor a debt that can never be repaid? This answer must lie in how we choose to live our lives. Our call to action today is to bridge our divisions, protect our communities, and lift each other up.
“We must live a life worthy of their sacrifice. We must strive to be a nation, a community that lives up to the ideas that they believe were worth defending. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
“To achieve this, we must follow the examples set forth by the men and women that we're here to honor today. We must let their legacy of selfless service and courageous leadership guide us. You don't need a title to lead, you just need the courage to stand up when others may not.
“You need the integrity to do the right thing, even when the right thing is not popular. The men and women we honor today did not wait for permission to be brave. Most didn't even set out to be heroes, and very few would have ever claimed that title.
“They simply volunteered to serve. Let these trees that surround us today serve as our witness trees, just as the witness trees that stand out at Mount Vernon stand silent testimonies to the birth of our nation. Let these ones that surround us today bear witness to our promise of remembrance, our promise of selfless service, and our promise of continued leadership.
“True leadership is rarely loud. It is found in quiet resolve and grit. Let it be found in the roots that anchor us together. Let it be planted in the small moments today that branch into our greatest memories of tomorrow. President George Washington reminded us that the independence and liberty you possess are the work of joint counsel and joint efforts. When in common dangers or suffering or even successes, this is not a job we can do alone. Its daily commitment means we must show up for each other. Together we can ensure their legacy lives on. Let us live lives worthy of their sacrifice.
“Let us ensure that when our witness trees look down upon us tomorrow or in the years to come, they see a community of people who remember, a community of people who serve, a community of people who are leaders in a nation that remains truly free. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to speak with you today. I hope that some of our rich history will inspire each of us to find the courage to lead with kindness, lots of grace to share with others, and much patience to listen with compassion.”
VFW Post 6338 Commander Roland Roderick presented a certificate of recognition to Rebecca Hocking, and thunderous applause sounded in appreciation of the address.
The presentation of ribbons at the ceremonial wreaths was conducted as follows: WWI (Donald Payne), WWII (Steven Cline), Korea (Karl Beck), Vietnam (Ronald Hartle), Panama (Michael Knowlton), Desert Storm (Rob Sargent), Bosnia (Todd Murray), Somalia/Haiti (Michael Webster), Afghanistan (Roland Roderick), Iraq (James Brice), POW/MIA (Gerald Barker), Women Veterans Memorial (Martha Johnson), American Legion Post 65 (Commander Jason Carvel), American Legion Ladies Auxiliary (President Mel Kirby), VFW Post 6338 (Commander Roland Roderick), VFW Auxiliary (President Jeff Platt), Gold Star Mothers/Family (Carla (Cappellino) Frank), Daughters & Sons of the American Revolution (Lynda Andrews and Mathew Billings), and Sons of the American Legion (Mark Jenkins). The presenters were escorted by George Griffith.
VFW Post 6338 Commander Roland Roderick then conducted the last roll call, remembering the deceased American Legion and VFW members who passed in the last year. This includes: Philip “Tippy” Simmons, James Wells, Donalda Jackson, Patricia Rice, Barbara Ashe, Madelyn Hansen, Rita Schermerhorn, and Gloria Youngs.
The “Salute To The Dead” was conducted by the VFW and American Legion Rifle Squad. Taps was conducted by Olivia Dearbeck, echo by GHS Senior Kelvin Bice III.
The benediction was conducted by American Legion Auxiliary President Mel Kirby.
Much appreciation was extended to all who took part and/or contributed any type of service for the annual Memorial Day remembrance. A special word of gratitude was extended to the Village of Gouverneur for their set-up help, the Gouverneur Police Department for the escort of the parade and traffic control, as well as to the members of the color guard and all the participants in the parade and ceremony. A luncheon, provided by the VFW Post 6338 Auxiliary, was made available to the public at the Silas Wainwright VFW Post 6338, 100 W. Main St., Gouverneur, following the ceremony.