157th annual Memorial Day parade held in Grafton

GRAFTON, W.Va. (WBOY) — In observance of Memorial Day, the City of Grafton held the 157th annual West Virginia Memorial Day Parade Monday morning.

There were about 250 entries in the parade this year, which consisted of six divisions that marched through the city, all the way into the Grafton National Cemetery.

“We’re just blessed to be able to do this here in Grafton,” West Virginia Memorial Day Committee General Chairman Corey Robinson said. “This is one of the biggest events that goes on here, and we’re very honored to be able to honor our fallen soldiers here in national cemeteries like these.”

Robinson told 12 News that Memorial Day is something that the committee celebrates over the whole weekend including a church service, brunch, and memorial service which were held on Sunday at the West Virginia National Cemetery just outside of Grafton.

Following the parade Monday morning, community members were able to gather on the lawn of the Grafton National Cemetery for another memorial service. Robinson said that for the community in Grafton, Memorial Day is sometimes considered a “homecoming.”

“If you left, it’s more than likely if you’re gonna come home, you’re gonna come home this weekend,” said Robinson. “We have family reunions, we have high school reunions, it’s a big deal, but everyone comes home to honor our fallen soldiers.”

“Everyone that lives here in Grafton, Taylor County–in West Virginia really, if you don’t have a veteran in your family, you know someone close to you who was a veteran who may have been somebody who was fallen in war,” Robinson added. “And that’s a big deal to us here in our community.”

Robinson said that the West Virginia Memorial Day Committee works tirelessly all year to make these Memorial Day weekend events possible.

“We have a very great, dedicated group of volunteers. A small group that puts out a whole lot of effort year-round for this parade to take place,” said Robinson. “We’re very honored to be able to do this for our fallen soldiers.

For anyone interested in signing up for the parade next year, stay tuned to the West Virginia Memorial Day Committee’s website .

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