A hometown daughter returns to lead the ceremony

Kathleen FitzGibbons stood before her hometown on Monday and spoke about service, sacrifice and the ties that bind a small community to the people who wear the uniform.

FitzGibbons, a 1981 graduate of Caledonia-Mumford Central School, was the featured speaker at Caledonia's 2026 Memorial Day ceremony. She retired in January after a long career in the U.S. State Department that included postings across Africa and a tenure as U.S. Ambassador to Niger.

According to her Wikipedia page, FitzGibbons served as deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassies in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Gabon. President Joe Biden nominated her as ambassador to Niger in July 2022. The Senate confirmed her by voice vote on July 27, 2023. She led an embassy team of more than 400 people until her retirement in January 2026.

"In Caledonia, Memorial Day holds a particular importance because it gives us the opportunity to recognize the brave individuals who gave everything so that we may live freely today," said Olivia Amorese, a junior at Caledonia-Mumford Central School.

Amorese recited her essay, "What Memorial Day Means to Me," during the ceremony outside Matthew Cleary American Legion Post 255 on Church Road.

The parade brought the community out

The celebration began with a parade from Caledonia-Mumford Elementary School to the Legion Post. According to the Daily News Online, the parade included classic cars, veterans, a color guard, members of the Livingston County Sheriff's Office Mounted Patrol, the USA Highlanders Pipes and Drum Corps, and a six-horse hitch.

Many members of Caledonia-Mumford's senior class carried a large American flag in the parade. The display marked the nation's semiquincentennial, the 250th anniversary of the country's declaration of independence.

At the Legion Post, the ceremony featured guest speakers, a rifle salute by the Post's rifle company, and the placing of wreaths at the memorial.

Student voices at the center

The Legion hosts an annual essay contest that invites Caledonia-Mumford High School juniors to write about what Memorial Day means to them. The Legion also conducts a "What the Flag Means to Me" poster contest for fourth- and fifth-grade students at Caledonia-Mumford Elementary School.

This year's essay contest results:

• First place: Olivia Amorese, $300
• Second place: Tabitha Cole, $200
• Third place: Payton Clement, $100

Amorese used her essay to connect the sacrifices of fallen soldiers to the daily life of a high school junior.

"To me, Memorial Day is not only about remembering those who served, but also about recognizing how their sacrifices directly affect my life," Amorese said. "The safety and freedom I get the privilege to experience every day is only possible because of the courage and selflessness from those who served our country."

She said the day is one of her favorites because of its meaning and the way it draws people together.

"Watching our community come together in silence and show respect shows just how powerful the sacrifices were that the military personnel gave," Amorese said. "Because of them we are able to reflect, and support one another, which is so inspiring."

The ceremony on May 25, 2026 closed with a moment of silence and the playing of taps, a tradition that the Legion and the Caledonia community carry forward each year.

Reporting by Margaret Holloway, Grand Rapids Press Wire. Source: Ben Beagle, Daily News Online / Livingston County News, May 27, 2026. Additional background: Wikipedia entry for Kathleen A. FitzGibbon.