– By Gabriel Pietrorazio
On Monday, the nation mourned the lives and memories of fallen soldiers on Memorial Day, but this Saturday in the birthplace of the federal holiday in observance for military servicemen and women who died in the line of duty, the Village of Waterloo is still honoring their longstanding tradition – even amid the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The Village of Waterloo announced that a commemoration will occur on Saturday, May 30th, including the possible presence of multiple World War II airplanes in a flyover depending on this weekend’s weather.
However, this year’s observance differs from previous events with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive order in place, which restricts the total number of persons among gatherings to no more than 10 individuals, even for this commemoration.
Although the Village of Waterloo is advising that the public should not physically attend the commemoration exercises, precautions are set ahead of this Saturday, which includes the taping of the ceremony that will be accessible online.
“Since the entire ceremony will be video recorded for public viewing after the event, the Village is asking the public to remain safe,” a press statement read.
While residents and the general public are being asked to remain at home in the Village of Waterloo on this post-Memorial Day observances, plans are in motion to have a flyover with as many as five World War II airplanes, allowing all to watch from their windows or outside in their backyards to enjoy.
The flyover is set to occur sometime around 10 a.m. Saturday morning, according to the Village’s statement.
Still, public outrage has ensued following these requests, which were aimed at ensuring public safety while mitigating any risks associated to the spread of COVID-19.
Gabe covered health and indigenous affairs in the Finger Lakes between 2019 and 2022. His award winning coverage was cited by the federal government and provided residents with an invaluable service during the coronavirus pandemic.