Memorial Day is Monday, May 27, 2024. It is a time for families and friends to come together, often through backyard barbecues, picnics, or ceremonial gatherings, to respectfully remember our fallen heroes.
Many people also regard Memorial Day weekend (Friday, May 24–Sunday, May 26, 2024) as the unofficial kickoff to summertime in Rochester. While enjoying the weekend, it’s essential to remember the holiday’s true meaning and to acknowledge and remember those who have given their lives in service to our country.
1. Honor Our Fallen Heroes
Although Memorial Day customs may vary, its core purpose remains the same: to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving in the military.
- Local cemeteries and veterans’ memorials often hold Memorial Day services, including speeches, wreath-laying ceremonies, flag-raising ceremonies, and moments of silence, to honor and remember fallen soldiers.
- Remember and honor the service and sacrifice of fallen soldiers, family members, or friends who served in the military by visiting their graves and placing flowers, flags, or other tributes on them.
- Memorial Day parades are a customary tradition in several communities. These parades typically include marching bands, veterans’ organizations, military vehicles, and floats. They offer a chance for the community to unite, show appreciation for veterans and active-duty military personnel, and honor the holiday.
- On Memorial Day, at 3 p.m., there is a national moment of remembrance. During this moment, we take one minute to remember soldiers who died while serving in the military. It’s an annual event that asks all Americans to pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by these brave soldiers.
- Consider spending Memorial Day in community service or volunteering for organizations that support veterans and their families. You can participate in various activities, such as assisting with cleaning up memorial sites, joining charity runs or walks, or lending a hand at veterans’ centers. These activities allow us to honor the sacrifices of our brave men and women in uniform and show appreciation to those who have served our country.
- Memorial Day presents a chance to educate the younger generation about the holiday’s significance. Families, schools, and community organizations can arrange activities and discussions to teach children about the sacrifices made by military personnel and the importance of honoring their memory.
Please contact the Veterans Outreach Center for ways that you can provide or recieve assistance.
Spend a Quiet Moment at a War Memorial
The Veterans Memorial at the Rochester Community War Memorial
The Blue Cross Arena’s lower level features a tranquil Veterans Memorial, paying tribute to local armed services and offering the community a space for reflection on the sacrifices of those who came before them. The memorial is open to the public Monday through Friday (except for holidays), from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and during evening and weekend Blue Cross Arena events. If the building is closed, you can peek through the window from the riverside park near Broad Street. Get Directions
Beikirch Park. Before 2012, the area south of Highland Drive was part of Highland Park. However, that year, the Monroe County Parks Department dedicated this area as Beikirch Park to honor Vietnam Veteran and Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Gary Beikirch. The park features several memorials, including the Greater Rochester Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, War on Terror Memorial, AIDS Memorial, Victims’ Rights Memorial, and Workers’ Rights Memorial. Get Directions
It is my hope that as people enter this park and walk among the heroes that are honored and remembered here that they will hear each hero say to them, “There is a different way to live your life. Live your life believing that there is something greater in life than me. Live your life caring for others, loving others. Greater love has no one than this … that you would lay down your life for your friend.”
Gary Beikirch
Livingston County Veterans Monument. Located at the Hampton’s Corners Complex on New York State Route 63, just south of Geneseo, there is a field of 250 metal poppies that sway gracefully in the breeze. Each poppy has been designed and welded by a veteran or a veteran’s family member to honor their brave service to the country. Get Directions
We Remember: Hopeman Carillon Concert
Enjoy a free carillon concert at the University of Rochester’s River Campus on Saturday, May 25, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Parking at 755 Library Road is also free. Bring a seat to comfortably enjoy the following songs:
- Genesee
- Peal for Appomattox Seventy-Six Trombones
- Grand Old Flag
- Armed Service Medley
- Let Freedom Ring
- Danny Boy (Londonderry Air)
- Minstrel Boy
- Ashokan Farewell
- Simple Gifts
- Goober Peas
- Yankee Doodle
- Shenandoah
- Life Blood
- Circle of Friendship
- Genesee Dreams
Visit the National Memorial Day Museum
Waterloo, New York, situated one hour east of Rochester, is the location of the first official Memorial Day. According to the museum’s website, the story of Memorial Day dates back to the summer of 1865. At a social gathering, a prominent local druggist named Henry C. Welles suggested that while praising the living veterans of the Civil War, it would be fitting to remember the patriotic dead by placing flowers on their graves. However, nothing resulted from this suggestion until the following spring when he mentioned the idea again to General John B. Murray, who was a Civil War hero and intensely patriotic. General Murray wholeheartedly supported the idea and rallied veterans’ support behind it. Learn more at wlhs-ny.com.
Attend a Ceremony or Parade
Be sure to check with your municipality for the dates and times of Memorial Day parades and other activities.
- Rochester, cityofrochester.gov
- Brighton, townofbrighton.org
- Brockport, brockportny.org
- Chili, townofchili.org
- Churchville, churchville.net
- East Rochester, eastrochester.org
- Fairport, village.fairport.ny.us
- Gates, gatesrecparks.org
- Greece, greeceparksrec.recdesk.com
- Henrietta, henriettany.myrec.com
- Hilton, hiltonny.org
- Honeoye Falls, villageofhoneoyefalls.org
- Irondequoit, irondequoit.gov
- Penfield, penfield.org
- Pittsford, townofpittsford.org
- Rush, townofrush.com
- Scottsville, scottsvilleny.org
- Spencerport, ogdenny.com
- Webster, websterny.gov
2. Learn About Our Military History
Fort Ontario State Historic Site
Fort Ontario State Historic Site is a must-visit destination for those passionate about history. The fort boasts a star-shaped structure that dates back to the early 1840s and showcases various renovations between 1863 and 1872. The site contains two guardhouses, a powder magazine, a storehouse, enlisted men’s barracks, an Army office building, unfurnished officer’s quarters, videos, exhibits, ramparts providing breathtaking views of Lake Ontario, and underground stone casemates and galleries that are open for tours.
Fort Ontario has played a significant role in American history. It has witnessed several major events, including three battles during the French and Indian War and two conflicts during the War of 1812. The fort remained occupied by the U.S. Army throughout World War II. However, from 1944 to 1946, it took on a unique role as the only refugee camp in the U.S. for predominantly Jewish victims of the Nazi Holocaust.
Fort Ontario was handed over to the State of New York in 1946 and was utilized as a housing facility for World War II veterans and their families until 1953. In 1949, it was officially established as a state historic site, to safeguard its storied past and highlight its multifaceted roles throughout various historical periods.
Old Fort Niagara
May 25–26, 2024: Soldiers Through the Ages. This timeline showcases the evolution of military history, including the changes in uniforms, weapons, equipment, and transport from the Middle Ages to the 20th century. The event will feature special displays of military vehicles, period living history camps, rations throughout history, and a timeline of military weaponry from matchlocks to M1s.
Old Fort Niagara provides a captivating opportunity to revisit the era when mighty empires fought for control over North America. You can delve into real 18th-century buildings and admire breathtaking views while participating in interactive programs that make history come alive. The Fort’s Visitor Center has introductory displays that exhibit original artifacts and an award-winning 16-minute orientation film that emphasizes the site’s significance.
Discover the fort and its original buildings, constructed between the 18th and 20th centuries, where Native American, French, British, and American soldiers lived and worked. In the summer season, visitors can witness musket and artillery firing demonstrations, take guided tours, and see artisan showcases that provide insights into life on the Niagara Frontier during the 18th and early 19th centuries. Special events feature reenactors who recreate the lives of past Fort garrisons and portray the struggles that shaped the birth of the United States and Canada.
Fort Stanwix
For thousands of years, a trail existed that connected the Mohawk River and Wood Creek. This trail, known as the Oneida Carrying Place, was a crucial link between the Atlantic Ocean and Lake Ontario. Before the arrival of the Europeans, this passageway marked an important period in American history, as different nations competed for control over the Mohawk Valley, the homelands of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the valuable resources of North America. During this intense struggle, Fort Stanwix played a crucial role in determining the outcome of the dispute.
On Monday, May 27, check out the first-ever Fort Stanwix National Monument Descendant’s Day event. Throughout the day, you can explore the muster records and biographies of soldiers who served at the fort and learn how the park researches these stories.
3. Learn About Our Transportation Heritage
Embark on a leisurely sightseeing boat, train, or hot air balloon expedition.
Explore the Erie Canal and Genesee River
Now that the Erie Canal has opened for the season on May 17, 2024, it’s the perfect time to explore Rochester’s waterways on board the Colonial Belle in Fairport, the Sam Patch in Pittsford, and the Riverie in Corn Hill. Each boat offers a unique experience of locking through Locks 32 or 33.
Take a Trolley or Train Ride
Celebrate the “Season Opening” on Sunday, May 26, at the New York Museum of Transportation in Rush. Enjoy a unique trolley ride through scenic rural areas and a museum filled with trolley cars, vehicles, model railroads, and the two iconic Midtown Plaza Monorail cars. The Arcade & Attica Railroad in Arcade also begins its season on Memorial Day Weekend.
While not a ride, visit the Edgerton Model Railroad Room during this month’s open house on Saturday, May 25, to experience their four season-themed displays.
Explore More
All Aboard! 🚂 Ride the Rails at These 4 Heritage Train Museums
Listen to the rhythmic chugga-chuggas and whistling choo-choos while enjoying the scenic landscape passing by on a Rochester-area train ride.
Letchworth Red, White, and Blue Balloon Festival
Balloons Over Letchworth, operated by Liberty Balloon Company, offers hot-air balloon rides throughout the three-day festival. Approximately 20 balloon pilots from around the country will come to the event to launch their balloons from the Archery Field. Witness one of four launches scheduled for 6 p.m. Friday, 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday, and 6 a.m. Sunday. Call (585) 493-3340 to verify the launch schedule. Pilots typically make a go/no-go decision two to three hours before the launch.
Of course, you don’t need to ride to enjoy this exceptional view! Bring a chair and pick a location near the Archery Field Overlook to watch the balloons dip in and out of the Genesee River gorge.
Award-winning Letchworth State Park, a little over one hour south of Rochester, covers over 14,000 acres along the Genesee River in Livingston and Wyoming Counties.
The Seneca Chief: Buffalo’s New Erie Canal Boat
The replica Erie Canal Boat Seneca Chief will depart from Buffalo Maritime Center’s Longshed on May 7, but you can take part in the grand celebration on Saturday, May 25 at 11 a.m. as it enters the water at Buffalo’s Commercial Slip, the historical endpoint of the Erie Canal. The boat will be accompanied by a pipes and drums band, and it will be inaugurated by officials, community members, and canal enthusiasts, marking the beginning of a new era and kicking off the Canalside summer season. This is a free and family-friendly public event.
In addition, mark your calendar for the Seneca Chief’s Bicentennial Voyage Departure on September 24, 2025. The boat will travel east on the Erie Canal to New York Harbor, commemorating the Bicentennial of Gov. DeWitt Clinton’s 1825 Inaugural Voyage, stopping at several canal towns.
4. Enjoy Time Outdoors
Pack a picnic and enjoy time with family and friends exploring our parks. Most of the gorge trails are open in time for Memorial Day weekend, but please check with them directly before you go.
Explore More
30 Perfect Picnic Spots Around Rochester
When searching for the perfect picnic spots, I look for a picnic table, scenery and proximity to water, shade, and relative privacy.
Gorge trails call out from their deep, dark, and cool caverns. If you haven’t already, start checking these spectacular trails off your list.
Not all waterfalls are hidden in dark ravines. Many of the region’s most stunning waterfalls can be viewed from the road or a short walk.
Monroe County parks are free and offer 12,000 acres of natural, zoological, horticultural, historical, and geological experiences.
50 New York State Parks Within a Two-Hour Drive of Rochester
Venture into one of these New York State Parks within a two-hour drive of Rochester and discover what makes them unique.
Paved, Boardwalk, and Gravel Pathways for Easy Strolls
These paved pathways and boardwalks are ideal for folks using strollers, walkers, wheelchairs, or managing other mobility challenges.
Beyond the gorge trails, nature centers, and gardens, these exceptional parks offer unique experiences and amenities worthy of exploration.
Paddle, Pedal, and Trek Along Rochester’s Waterways
With parks, preserved wetlands, historic neighborhoods, and miles of trails, Rochester has no shortage of adventures for outdoor enthusiasts.
Unlock the Wonder: 12 Ways to Fully Experience the Erie Canal
Experience the beauty, history, and community of the Erie Canal through activities that offer a unique perspective of life along the canal.
Do you have a favorite way to spend Memorial Day Weekend around Rochester?
Your insights and experiences are valuable. Please share them in the comments.
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Enjoy the Journey Together!
