Agawam Center Cemetary

On Saturday, Vitkus, 74, who spent more than two decades helping the developmentally disabled, had his dying wish granted. His cremated remains were lowered to his resting place alongside the people he grew up with at the institution where allegations of neglect and abuse prompted a class action lawsuit. Vitkus, who died in January, was placed at the state school as a 6-year-old foster child and lived there until he was 17. He died in January. His is the first burial at the cemetery, where there are 204 other gravesites, in nearly a decade. Nearly 70 of Vitkus’ friends, family members and people touched by his work gathered for an emotional memorial service in the secluded, wooded area off Turkey Hill Road.“For those of you who knew him, you knew he was a humble guy just talking to him,” said his son, David Vitkus. “He was not only humble, but he was extremely grateful for his family, his friends, and for the opportunities he received that his brothers and sisters hadn’t. He was always keenly aware of the opportunities he received that others simply didn’t.” David Vitkus said that his father was a compassionate man, always concerned with the well-being of his friends and family. “As much as we are here to honor a man who accomplished a great deal coming from practically nothing, I think he would want me to say one last thank you for being there for him, and for us, during what turned out to be a remarkable evolution of a man — from a lost boy, to an advocate, husband, father and grandfather,” David said. “So thank you very much.” Vitkus died Jan. 24 at the Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Charleston, South Carolina. Previously, he had lived at the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System in Leeds. He is survived by his wife, Patricia Vitkus of Savannah, Georgia, a son and daughter, a stepdaughter and four grandchildren. William Vitkus, 23, of Tucson, Arizona, said he grappled with his grandfather&rsqu...

Many of the events will also recognize the 50th anniversary of the start of the ground campaign of the Vietnam War.Here is a list of some of the events in different communities. The public is urged to attend to remember the veterans.Agawam: Ceremonies on Monday begin at 7 a.m. at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Bridge on Bridge Street, with the West Springfield Veterans' Council. Ceremonies follow at 7:25 a.m. at American Legion Post #185; 7:40 a.m. at Springfield Street Cemetery; 8 a.m. at Granger School; 8:15 a.m. at South Westfield Street Cemetery; and 8:30 a.m. at Agawam Center Cemetery.The parade begins at 10 a.m. at Agawam Middle School / Agawam Town Hall. The route proceeds down Main Street to Veterans Green, where a ceremony will be held. Amherst: The annual Memorial Day Parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. on Monday at the North Common, wind its way onto North Pleasant Street to East Pleasant Street, turning into the War Memorial Pool Grounds for the ceremony. The guest speaker is Ray Elliott.Chicopee: The city will begin services by honoring a resident with the Sgt. Charles H. Tracy Award, which is given to a veteran who goes above and beyond to help fellow veterans, at 9 a.m., Thursday outside 36 Center St. The event is open to the public.The Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 111 will hold a candlelight memorial service at 7 p.m., Sunday, to remember those killed in war and those missing in action. The event is held at the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial Park, on Chicopee Street, where a bronze plaque for each of the 15 residents who were killed in the war is attached to each of the 15 brick pillars which surround the park.The Memorial Day Parade will step off at 10 a.m., Monday, from the American Legion Post 452 on Exchange Street and will march down Cabot and Front Streets, ending at the Veterans' Plaza, located in front of the Sgt. Kevin Dupont Middle School. At about 11:15 a.m. remembrance services will be held in the plaza.Deerfield: The parade begins at 8:20 a.m. with a 21-gun salute at Fr...

Here is a look at some of the ceremonies scheduled in our area. If you have an event that is not on the list, let us know about it, by e-mailing the event information to reportit@wwlp.com.AGAWAM-Various early morning ceremonies-7AM Viet Nam Bridge with West Springfield Veterans' Council7:25 American Legion Post #1857:40 Springfield Street Cemetery8:00 Granger School8:15 South Westfield Street Cemetery8:30 Agawam Center Cemetery, across from St. John's Church10AM-Parade begins at Agawam Middle School/Agawam Town Hall and march down Main Street to Veterans' Green.  Ceremony to follow.Department of Veterans' Service Agawam Memorial Day Service: 1PM Lt. Gov Polito, Congressman Neal at Mass Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam.CHICOPEE- Parade begins at American Legion Post 452, 43 Exchange Street, at 10:00 am.  The Parade will march down Exchange Street to Cabot Street, around Bullens Park and will turn left onto Center Street.  The parade will then precede around City Hall and up Front Street to the Chicopee Veterans' Memorial Plaza at Chicopee Academy.  There will be three stops during the parade to lay wreaths to memorialize the monument at Bullens Park and the second at Chicopee Veterans Service to memorialize Charles Tracy plaque and the third at City Hall to memorialize the Civil War Monument.  A ceremony will be held at the Veterans' Plaza at 11:15 a.m. on Front Street in front of Chicopee Academy. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will commence at 10:00 am at the American Legion Post 452.EAST LONGMEADOW-Marchers will step off at 10:50 a.m. at high school parking lot and proceed to the high school flagpole area where the new flag will be raised. Wreath laying near the flagpole and military honors will be conducted.Immediately following the outdoor ceremonies all will be invited into the high school auditorium for the formal program. After, Veterans Memorial at East Longmeadow Center Square for placing of flowers and wreaths by the veterans, politi...