Memorial Day In The Bitterroot

Longtime Corvallis American Legion Post 91 member Frank Mason was Grand Marshal of the annual Memorial Day Parade (photos below) that highlighted the activities on a warm Monday in the Bitterroot Valley.

The parade has been held every year for 101 years, including last year during the pandemic. However, this year, the crowds along the parade route were larger than normal, and the route, starting at the north end of main street at the Corvallis High School, turned at the Corvallis cut-off road and extended another two blocks, with crowds along the roadside all the way.

A little later in the day, Corvallis Post 91 also read names of veterans buried at the Corvallis Cemetery, then they met at the Woodside Bridge and dropped a wreath in the Bitterroot River to remember those who perished at sea in service to the country.

In Hamilton, ceremonies started earlier in the day, with Ravalli Post 47 of the American Legion laying wreaths at the World War I doughboy statue at the Ravalli County Museum at 8 a.m. with a short ceremony and a 21-gun salute and then the Post members placed a wreath in the Bitterroot River at the West Main Bridge in memory of those service members lost at sea. After a third ceremomy at the Riverview Cemetery, Post members headed to Corvallis and were part of the 10 a.m. Memorial Day parade.

Cemeteries thoughout the valley were decorated with flowers as families remembered those who've passed away. There were also lots of American flags and small crosses at headstones, especially at the Hamilton and Corvallis cemeteries.