Historical Society and American Legion to host Memorial Day program
May 22, 2024 | By Cheryl Casey 
Keith and Gladys Wallace and infant daughter Roaine. Photo courtesy of Waterbury Historical Society
The Waterbury Historical Society and American Legion Post #59 will hold their annual Memorial Day Ceremony and Ghost Walk on Monday morning at Maple Street Cemetery in Waterbury Center.
The event begins at 11 a.m. with a remembrance ceremony led by the legion’s Color Guard, to recognize those who died in service to the United States Armed Forces. Immediately following the ceremony, members of the historical society will lead a “ghost walk” focusing this year on sharing stories about people who once lived and worked in Waterbury but are not buried in the town's cemeteries.
Presentations will focus on individuals whose contributions as dairy farmers, business owners, public servants, educators and coaches, and military personnel made an impact on Waterbury life.
In preparation for the holiday, legion members and Boy Scouts have placed American flags on graves at cemeteries around town. Below, volunteers at the Waterbury Center cemetery along Vermont Route 100 and at Maple Street Cemetery.
Click the photos to enlarge and see captions.
On Memorial Day, the Ghost Walk program will have four stations, each highlighting a different story:
Rosina and K. Allen Wallace will share a presentation about their parents, Keith and Gladys Wallace. They owned and ran a dairy farm. Keith held elected local and state office and was a leader of the Vermont Farm Bureau. They both were active in community organizations and are buried on their Blush Hill farm in Waterbury.
Howard P. “Skip” Flanders will present the story of Aurelia “Ollie” O’Clair, Waterbury’s first woman Village Trustee, who wrote poetry and took over her husband’s granite shed when he died. She is buried in Stowe.
Charlie Grenier will tell the story of Waterbury High School teacher, coach, and Waterbury High School Principal Dascombe “Dac” Rowe. The namesake of the park at the town’s northern gateway today, Rowe inspired many students in his career and was laid to rest in Peacham, Vermont.
Brian Lindner will remember five Waterbury men who served in the U.S. military and are classified as “missing in action.” Their names are etched on a monument in Rusty Parker Memorial Park.
This year marks the 18th annual Memorial Day Ceremony and Ghost Walk, which has been organized by Historical Society board member Jan Gendreau since its inception. The event is free, family-friendly, and will take place rain or shine. The public is invited to attend. Bring a lawn chair for the presentations.
Waterbury Roundabout contributor Cheryl Casey is president of the nonprofit Waterbury Historical Society.