Stillwater held its annual Memorial Day observance and parade on Friday, May 25th.

A memorial service was held at 4:30 p.m. near the new monuments at the Earl J. Manning American Legion Post 490, 1 American Legion Road. New York State Senator Roy McDonald, 43rd Senate District, was the guest speaker.

Following the ceremony at 6:15 p.m. was the annual Stillwater Memorial Day parade, one of the oldest parades in New York State. The more than one-mile parade route stepped off from Railroad Avenue and continued through the village, ending at American Legion Post 490.

Leading off this year’s parade was the Stillwater American Legion Post 490 Color Guard along with the Ladies Auxiliary and the 2012 Miss Poppy Queen.

Stillwater’s own Daisy the Clown (and Daisy’s clown car) joined the festivities along with fire departments from Stillwater (Newland-Wood), Mechanicville and Hoosic Valley, local Girl Scout, Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops, and Saratoga County’s Hometown Radio Station – FM 101.3.

Six bands provided musical entertainment along the route including the Stillwater High School Marching Band, the Fiesta Band, Bill Hoogeveen and the Barber Shop Quartet, the Scotia-Glenville Pipe Band, the Fyfes & Drumms of Olde Saratoga, and the Capital District Marching Band.

Floats included the Stillwater Family Day float by the Stillwater Community Center, the Stillwater Ladies Auxiliary float, the Uncle Sam Chorus float, and the 13th Regiment of Albany County Militia float with Field Commander Phillip Colarusso.