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Today's Poll: Should throwing candy to children be part of the Memorial Day parade?

By Howard B. Owens
Jason Crater

I assume this is in question because of childhood obesity? The issue isn't eliminating candy, it's moderating the amount of candy kids eat.

Candy absolutely should be passed out at the parade.

It's up to the kids' parents to help them moderate their intake.

Mar 25, 2015, 9:07am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

It has nothing to do with childhood obesity.

There are those who object because they consider it inappropriate for a solemn event meant to honor our war dead.

Mar 25, 2015, 9:09am Permalink
Jason Crater

There will also be a request for parade participants not to toss candy to children. There's concern throwing candy is more festive than respectful of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice on behalf of their country.

-Sorry. Just read this. Isn't the point of a parade to CELEBRATE the lives of those who've made the ultimate sacrifice?

Mar 25, 2015, 9:09am Permalink
Gary Spencer

I thought the idea of not throwing candy was more of a safety issue. I think there was a case where a child was run over by a float trying to pick up candy in the street.
But I could be wrong.

Mar 25, 2015, 9:19am Permalink
John Roach

I think this ban is silly. Throwing candy has never been a problem at this parade before. Little kids love it, making the parade more fun for them.

What next, ban cheering and clapping when units march past?

Mar 25, 2015, 10:47am Permalink
Cheryl Saville

I think the kiddies will survive a parade without candy. It is Memorial Day. If they ask why there's no candy the parents/guardians can explain what Memorial Day is. It seems to me that our society has lost some of its civility and reverence for life. At other parades, no problem, toss all the candy you want. But out out respect and appreciation for our brave veterans, living and dead can't we omit it ?

Another thought ~ in our town the fire trucks and rescue vehicles parade silently on Memorial Day. For other occasions you can't heard yourself think for all the sirens and horns tooting.

Mar 25, 2015, 11:23am Permalink
John Roach

I belong to two different veterans groups and have never heard any complaints. I marched with the old 2/390th Regt (Army Reserve) here in Batavia and not once did any member complain about candy for little kids.

Mar 25, 2015, 1:17pm Permalink
Jennifer Keys

Food allergies are quite prevalent and continue to rise in our country. I don't ever remember having candy thrown at me as a child at parades, but maybe if it is a necessity we could throw small trinkets instead.

Mar 25, 2015, 12:35pm Permalink
Rich Richmond

My father was in the Navy during the Korean Conflict and his brothers my uncles were Navy and Army WWII European Theater.

I remember as a small child attending the large Memorial Day Parades on Main Street and sitting on my dad’s shoulders watching the tanks with the rubber treads roll by. It was a wonderful time and then the whole extended family from Batavia got together for a large picnic in my grandfather’s or great uncle’s back yards.

I brought my children, two sons and my daughter to the Memorial Day Parades and they rode on my shoulders the same. Let little children be children with all the simple innocent delights like the small pieces of candy that go along with it.

The Main Street Parade aspect of Memorial Day is a celebration of life and of community; of family where even small children might participate.

The solemn ceremonies of quiet decorum for the War Dead at the cemetery are best attended by adults; or those children old enough to understand.

Mar 25, 2015, 1:42pm Permalink
Raymond Richardson

"I've never heard it addressed as a safety issue..."

The majority of parade organizers in the southern tier, and other areas as well, prohibit candy, or other trinkets, from being thrown from any of floats or vehicles in the parade because there have been some children who have been run over by those vehicles and killed. They require entrants to have volunteers walk along the side of the street, near the curb, and drop the items down towards the curb to prevent children from running into the path of the parade.

However, my opinion is this has been a long tradition at Memorial Day parades for candy and trinkets to be tossed from floats and such and I see no harm in it, nor do I feel it dishonors those the parade is honoring either.

Mar 27, 2015, 8:06am Permalink

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