Kenneth Smith is the grand marshal for Woodbury’s Memorial Day Parade

CENTRAL VALLEY — The Town of Woodbury Memorial Day Parade will be held Sunday, May 27.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Kenneth R. Smith, who enlisted into the United States Army on Dec. 13, 1967. He trained at Fort Dix, N.J., and received specialized light weapon training at Fort Lewis, Wash., earning the Expert Rifle award.

During USS Pueblo crisis in January 1968, Smith’s unit was at the readiness on the Korea peninsula, remaining in an alert status thwarting North Korea’s further aggression.

Smith was awarded the Korea Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal, for his service in Korea,

Upon leaving military service, Smith and his wife Susan moved to Highland Mills, where they have resided for 26 years. He continues to serve his nation and the Woodbury community as a 22-year member of the American Legion, serving as the treasurer and adjutant of Woodbury Post 779 and serving as the post’s scouting representative.

Smith is a founding sponsor of Woodbury Boy Scouts of America Venture Crew (co-ed program). For more than a decade, he volunteered in support of the Monroe-Woodbury Little League and continues as an active member of the Woodbury Community Association.

Now retired, Smith works part-time as security at Earl Reservoir Park. He and his wife Susan of 32 years are the parents of two children, Allan, a recent graduate of Siena College, and Brian a student at SUNY Plattsburgh.

Essential information The parade includes veterans, marching bands, color guards, civic organizations, classic cars and more.

The parade forms at 12:30 p.m. on Bond Street and begins north on Route 32 at 1 p.m., pausing at both the Summit Avenue Monument in Central Valley and the Victory Park Monument in Highland Mills to conduct brief wreath-laying ceremonies.

The parade will continue north to the Cemetery of The Highlands where it will end with a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Veteran’s Monument and Firemen’s Monument.

Refreshments will be served to all marchers at the end of the parade and ceremonies, in the parking lot next to the Highland Mills Methodist Church, compliments of the Woodbury Community Association.

Portions of Route 32 in Woodbury along the parade route will be closed during the duration of the parade. Travelers should plan for detours.

This year’s complimentary Parade Committee Journal Book which includes the parade program schedule and more, will be available in local public places, by Saturday,May 19.