GREECE, N.Y. — For Memorial Day, the town of Greece hosted a celebration for the first time since 2019 that included a parade and remembrance ceremony.

Hundreds of people lined Long Pond Road in Greece Monday for the return of the Greece Memorial Day Parade.

“It was actually really awesome, just to see the turnout and to see everyone having a good time, finally,” Alan Overslaugh of Greece said. “Remembering all the fallen soldiers that we’re remembering today has been great. But just to see everyone out enjoying themselves and getting back to normal a little bit has been awesome. Really, really awesome.”

Eight-year-old Jackson and his family were there, cheering on a procession including first responders, veterans, the Greece Marching Band and more.

“Watching all the cars is fun, like turning the sirens on and beep,” Jackson said.

The parade ended at the Greece Town Hall for the Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony.

World War II veteran Robert Vershay, 96, was there.

“If you don’t keep reminding them, they’re going to forget it,” Vershay said.

God Bless America was sung, and the names of Greece residents who died while serving were read out loud.

Vershay recognized one.

“He was a young boy that lived close to me,” Vershay said. “Went to Vietnam, never came back.”

The ceremony closed with a gun salute and fireworks.