In just 72 hours, a Milton man turned a problem into productivity.
When Paul Brisson found out the Memorial Day Parade in Saratoga Springs had been cancelled for the first time in several decades, he decided to launch a campaign to bring it back.
He says all the hard work is well worth it in order to honor the military men and women who have dedicated their lives to serving the country, in the past, present and future.
Brisson is not a military man, and he's not a member of any veterans group, but just since Saturday, he's managed to generate a ton of interest in re-organizing the parade - on Facebook.
"I don't know, this really kind of got to me, and I can't tell you why, it just did," the Free Mason said.
"After getting a couple hundred people responding to messages, I started a group on Facebook, and today we're up to 450 people actively participating," Brisson said.
What he found online was people coming out of the woodwork to offer everything from convertibles to carry aging vets the length of the parade route, and children in Boys Scout troops to march.
Brisson says as long as all goes well with the insurance for the event, it looks like the Saratoga Springs Memorial Day parade has been saved.
When asked why the parade was cancelled to begin with, he said, "I think there's a lot of 'he said, she said' finger pointing, which happens in this scenarios."
Brisson says between tough financial times, the aging veteran population, and a perceived lack of community interest in the past, the local veterans groups who typically organize the parade were forced to cancel.
The Saratoga Springs VFW, American Legion, and Italian American Club all declined to comment about the group of citizens leading the effort to resurrect the parade.
"I think we've all been guilty of the 'I'm really busy attitude,' you know? '(People say) I don't have time for a parade.' This is one of those parades which is a celebration as much as it is a solemn' event. We're remembering those guys who didn't make it back, and ones who might be still over there, and that's something a lot of people forget about."
And out on the street in Saratoga Springs, the public seems quite happy to hear the parade is back.
Edmund Cechnicki said, "I think that it's great that it was resurrected. And I think it's great for a lot of reasons. I think a lot of the people who serve our country deserve to have this, mostly. My dad was in WWII, my brother was in the Vietnam conflict, I have a son in the coast guard presently, and I think a lot of our military, and I think they deserve it."
Margo Strosberg said, "I think that is just awesome. I think it renews our faith in the young people of this country. They care about the country. They care about those who have given their service to this country, and those who haven't made it through. And I think that's just a wonderful thing."
Some people, including Brisson himself, say they're surprised at just how effective the social networking medium has been at getting the message out about reviving the parade out, and mobilizing so many people to 'care.'
Brisson said, "Facebook, in my opinion, sort of put the power in our hands to get the word out, to get the press involved. We didn't even ask the press involved, which I think is priceless. We've received comments and donations from people who don't even live in this state or in this community."
Strosberg agrees. She said, "It's wonderful use of the social media, I think. I think the social media has terrific possibilities for the future, on what can be accomplished."
The Saratoga Springs Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, May 28th at 10 a.m. and will begin near the corner of Broadway and Grove.
If you're interested in donating money to, volunteering for or marching in the parade click here to see the groups' Facebook page.
