The Camillus Memorial Day Parade Committee is proud to announce

  Don Laxton as our 2023 Grand Marshal.

    Don was born at Indiantown Gap, PA Army Hospital where his parents were stationed in the early 1950’s.  Returning to their hometown of Auburn shortly thereafter where he was raised.  

    After graduation from Union Springs HS, Don enlisted in the USAF where he was trained in Photo Intelligence and served in Denver, Langley VA,

Wiesbaden, Germany and an additional term with the 174th TFW in

Syracuse as a ground radio operator.  During this time, he worked as a

commercial photographer and then joined his family’s advertising business. In later years he moved to the insurance business with 2 Allstate and an Independent agency.  

   Don met and married the love of his life, Patti, in Auburn in 1980, they shortly thereafter moved to Camillus raising 2 daughters, Kimberly and Brittany and will be expecting their first grandchild later this year.  Always active in professional and community groups, he has over the years served as President of The Syracuse Ad Club, Camillus Chamber of Commerce,

Camillus Rotary, Camillus Elks Lodge, Camillus Republican Committee, Flotilla Commander-Syracuse Coast Guard Auxiliary, Commander, Camillus American Legion Post 1540, member of Camillus VFW Post 8664, Radio Amateurs of Greater Syracuse, and in 2010 was named Camillus Citizen of the Year by the Chamber.  

   Don says his greatest honor is to have served as Camillus Memorial Day Committee Chairman from 2010 to 2022.