Memorial Day 2023: Parades, ceremonies in Seacoast NH and southern Maine are listed here
Memorial Day is Monday, May 29. Below is a roundup of parades and observances planned in communities in Seacoast New Hampshire and southern York County, Maine:
Dover
Ceremony on Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m. at Pine Hill Cemetery, 131 Central Ave., Dover. The national anthem will be performed by Maria Boudreau, presentation of colors by DHS NJROTC. Addresses will be made by Mayor Robert Carrier, special guest speaker Dan Kinville, CW04 Coast Guard (retired), and cannon firings by the 1st NH Light Artillery.
Durham
Ceremony Monday, May 29 at Memorial Park on Main Street. The ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on Main Street with special guest speakers, musical tributes, laying of the wreath at Memorial Park and more.
Eliot
Services will be at 10 a.m. at the Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Marshwood High School band will play a patriotic tune or two and taps. Eliot Police Department and the Eliot Fire Department will provide honor guard. There will be no parade this year.
Epping
American Legion Post 51 is organizing a parade at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29.
Exeter
Parade and ceremony will take place on Monday, May 29. The day will start with a ceremony at Swasey Parkway at 10 a.m. The parade will wind along Front Street to Gale Park, with guest speakers and a flag ceremony. The ceremonies will conclude in the Exeter Cemetery.
Hampton
Hampton's American Legion Post 35 invites the public to its annual Memorial Day ceremonies on Monday, May 29. Ceremonies are: 8 a.m. at the Hampton Beach Marine Memorial; 9 a.m. in Hampton Falls at Weare Common; 10 a.m. North Hampton parade, followed by a gathering at the North Hampton School; and 11:30 a.m., parade through Hampton, followed by services at High Street Cemetery. This year the guest speaker is retired Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Alex Reno.
Hampton Beach will hold a special Memorial Day fireworks display Sunday, May 28 at 9:30 p.m. Fireworks are best seen between B and C streets.
Kingston
Parade steps off from the Town Hall Monday, May 29 at 1 p.m. then heads across the street to Kingston Pizza, left on West Main street, right on Rockrimmon Road, left onto Ball Road all the way to Danville Road. Then left onto Danville Road, left to Main Street, all the way on West Main Street past Kingston Pizza to Church Street, left onto North Road, and parking at Greenwood cemetery.
Kittery
The Kittery/Eliot VFW Post 9394 will host a ceremony at the Orchard Grove Cemetery, 85 Rogers Road, beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, May 29. It will feature local speakers.
Ogunquit
Parade starts at 11 a.m. on Bourne Lane, followed by a ceremony.
Portsmouth
On Friday, May 26, at 11 a.m. the American Legion/VFW conducts the annual Burial at Sea Ceremony by the anchor sculpture in Prescott Park. The ceremony includes a performance of patriotic music by the Portsmouth Middle School ensemble and a wreath-laying on the Piscataqua River. In the event of rain the ceremony will be held at the American Legion at 96 Islington St.
On Monday, May 29 at 2 p.m. the City and American Legion Post 168 host a ceremony at the Plains Field. The Rev. Chris Dunaway will preside as chaplain and the Portsmouth High School Clipper band will perform. Recognizing Operation Iraqi Freedom launched 20 years ago, in March 2003, City Councilor Kate Cook, who worked in the U.S. State Department with Secretary of State Colin Powell, will be the keynote speaker. In the event of rain the ceremony will be held at the American Legion at 96 Islington St.
The USS Albacore Submarine Memorial Park hosts its annual Memorial Day ceremony Monday, May 29 at 10 a.m.
Instead of a Memorial Day Parade, the city will celebrate its 400th anniversary with the Portsmouth NH 400 Grand Parade on Saturday, June 3 at 11 a.m. All veterans are invited to participate. Post #168 is coordinating a convoy of DeLoreans to transport veterans who are unable to walk in the parade.
Rochester
The Rochester Veterans Council will host a parade on Monday, May 29. Parade step off at Holy Rosary Church on North Main Street will be at 9:30 a.m. with the parade making its way to the Arched Bridge over the Cochecho River. There will be a short stop to conduct a wreath memorial service at the bridge. It will continue down North Main Street through downtown onto South Main Street and conclude just past the Rochester Common in time for ceremonies at the Field of Honor.
Heroism will be on display at the Rochester common with the Field of Honor with more than 500 U.S. flags, beginning May 27 and running through May 29. The event is free to the public. On Monday, May 29 at 11 a.m. following the parade, a small service will take place with a presentation of colors, the laying of the wreaths and a few words by Mayor Paul Callaghan and former Lt. Col. USMC Joe Kenney. Taps will be played nightly on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday evening at 7 p.m.
Somersworth
Services will be held at each cemetery on Monday, May 29: at 9:10 a.m. Forest Glade Cemetery; at 9:30 a.m. Greek Orthodox Cemetery; at 9:45 a.m. Mt. Calvary Cemetery; at 10:15 a.m. at Holy Trinity Cemetery; and at 10:40 a.m. at Tri City Christian Cemetery.
The parade will step off from the American Legion parking lot at 11:30 a.m. Brief ceremonies will be held at Memorial Park (former City Hall) and at the Somersworth-Berwick bridge. The Somersworth High School marching band will participate. Veterans needing a ride in the parade with questions may call Post 69 at 603-692-9898.
Stratham
Parade and ceremony will be held Monday, May 29. Parade will begin at 1:30 p.m. and will start at Jack Rabbit Lane and march east on Portsmouth Avenue to Stratham Hill Park. The parade will include fire trucks, police cars, the Cooperative Middle School band, Girl Scouts, BSA Scouts from Troop 185 and Pack 185, youth athletic teams, antique cars and trucks, and more. Portsmouth Avenue (between Jack Rabbit Lane and Stratham Hill Park) will temporarily be closed to vehicles during the parade.
Immediately following the parade, a ceremony will begin in the Veterans Memorial Garden at Stratham Hill Park. The ceremony includes many participants from the town of Stratham, including the Stratham Volunteer Fire Department, Honor Guard, and Rifle Squad, the Stratham Community Church, Stratham Girl Scouts, and Scouts BSA Troop 185 and Pack 185. A vocal performance of “Star Spangled Banner” will be sung by Stratham Memorial School students.
The featured guest speaker will be Dr. Cindy Dominguez, principal cognitive scientist at The Mitre Corporation, graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and veteran of the Air Force. The laying of the wreath will be done by Col. William Davis, director of staff – Air, Joint Force Headquarters, New Hampshire.
The Stratham Volunteer Fire Department hold a ceremony at noon at the fire station.
Wells
Parade will be held on Monday, May 29 at 9 a.m. It will march from Wells High School, down Sanford Road, to Ocean View Cemetery where a ceremony will honor the graves of brothers Elbridge and Leroy Hanson, Co. I, 3rd Battalion, 39th Regiment, 4th Division, KIA, Meuse-Argonne Offensive, France October 1918. Musical performances by Atlantic Harmonies will take place. Veterans and current service members are invited to join the parade.
York
Parade at 10 a.m. starting at St. Christopher’s Church and ending at First Parish Church Cemetery.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Memorial Day 2023: Seacoast NH, Maine parades, ceremonies listed here
