Roots Television has a great online video taken from old movies of Memorial Day in 1920. This particular video shows Cornwall, New York although I suspect that similar scenes were found all over America.
This is a silent movie but is accompanied by music of the era. I was fascinated by the clothing styles of the bystanders, by all the folks on horseback, and by the dirt streets.
You can watch this bit of Americana at: http://www.rootstelevision.com/index.html?bcpid=7225568001&bclid=240119644&bctid=935463320.
Fascinating-- thanks for posting. A surprise for me is that the parade didn't end in a cemetery. I seem to remember our city parade always ended in the military section of the city cemetery; the veteran's center then always had their own separate parade and celebration at the veterans' cemetery. Thanks, again.
Posted by: Stephen | May 23, 2009 at 10:35 AM
Thank you for this memory. It was fascinating to watch the people. Making this available is one of the reasons I enjoy this website.
Posted by: Barbee Hodgkins | May 23, 2009 at 11:43 AM
What a great video! Thanks to Rootstelevision for saving such a great slice of American Life!
Posted by: Ellen Healy | May 23, 2009 at 12:32 PM
Thank you for sharing. My father came to this country in 1920 after having been conscripted from Denmark into the German army and been a POW in France. I emailed this to my kids.
Edna Hollingsworth, Santa Barbara,CA
Posted by: Edna Hollingsworth | May 24, 2009 at 02:29 AM
I'll be showing this to my father later, who was born in NY in 1920 and is a veteran of WWII, a retired commander USN.
Bebe
Posted by: Bebe Brovk | May 24, 2009 at 08:24 AM