Memorial Day parades and ceremonies around RI this weekend honor those who gave all
Honoring those service members who sacrificed their lives for this country, Memorial Day is Monday, May 29, this year.
As of Tuesday, the
The weather forecast for the three-day weekend is showing partly cloudy skies and temperatures between the 50s and high 70s all three days, creating near-perfect conditions for the outdoor events that are planned.
As Memorial Day is about honoring those who died in service, flags should be flown at half-staff.
Here’s a look at the parades and ceremonies happening around Rhode Island this weekend:
All Weekend
Boots on the Ground
When: Friday through Sunday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Monday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Fort Adams, 90 Fort Adams Drive, Newport
What to know: More than 7,000 combat boots will be placed on the ground, each commemorating a U.S. service member killed in action in the post-9/11 War on Terror. The boots will have a card with the biographical information, military branch, rank and circumstances of death. A ceremony for Rhode Island’s Gold Star families to place the boots representing their loved one will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 27.
Sunday, May 28
Parades
Charlestown Memorial Day Parade
When: 1 p.m.
Route: The parade travels Old Post Road.
What to know: After the parade, there will be a gathering at the Charleston Naval Airfield Memorial at Ninigret Park. During the parade, there will be observances at Cross’ Mills Baptist Church and Cold Brook.
Exeter Memorial Day Parade
When: 1 p.m.
Route: The parade marches along Route 102 from Sunderland Road to the Exeter Library.
What to know: Following the parade there will be a ceremony at Exeter Library. There will also be a celebration including food trucks, balloon animals, face painting, free hot dogs and drinks.
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Hope Valley Memorial Day Parade
When: 2 p.m.
Route: The parade starts at the Hope Valley–Wyoming Fire District headquarters and goes down Main Street to Chariho Plaza.
Ceremonies
Patriotic Concert
When: 5 to 6 p.m.
Where: Fort Adams, 90 Fort Adams Drive, Newport
What to know: Rhode Island National Guard’s 88th Army Band, Jazz Ensemble will play their first event of the year. The concert is free and people should bring lawn chairs and picnic blankets.
Warren Vietnam Memorial
When: 9 a.m.
Where: Warren Vietnam Memorial, intersection of Market Street and Kickemuit Road
What to know: The ceremony, which includes prayers, speeches and music, is expected to last about 45 minutes and then move to North Burial Ground to render honors at the grave of the first captain of the Federal Blues.
Monday, May 29
Parades
Barrington Memorial Day Parade
When: 9 a.m.
Route: The parade starts at Barrington High School and ends at Town Hall.
What to know: There is a wreath-laying ceremony before the parade at Victory Gate at the high school, and a formal ceremony with a keynote speaker after the parade on the lawn at Town Hall.
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East Greenwich Memorial Day Parade
When: 10 a.m.
Route: The parade steps off at Academy Field, proceeds down Mawney Street to First Avenue, and then north on Main Street to the Town Hall. The route should take about an hour.
What to know: In the event of rain, a ceremony will be held at Swift Community Center, 121 Peirce St., at 10 a.m., instead of having the parade. A temporary parking ban will be in effect on streets near Academy Field to accommodate parade vehicles.
East Providence Memorial Day Parade
When: 10 a.m.
Route: Steps off at Old Oldham School on Bullocks Point Avenue and marches to American Legion Post 10 on Willett Avenue.
Lincoln Memorial Day Post Parade and Celebration at Chase Farm Park
When: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Route: The parade starts at the corner of Higginson and Smithfield avenues, then winds through town to Great Road and ends at Chase Farm Park around noon.
What to know: Sponsored by the town of Lincoln and the Lincoln Memorial Day Parade Committee, the parade ends in a celebration that includes a live band, food truck, and a chance to visit the historic sites at the Great Road Heritage Campus.
North Kingston Memorial Day Parade
When: 10 a.m.
Route: The parade goes down West Main, Brown and Phillips streets through Wickford Village to Tower Hill Road.
What to know: Before the parade starts, there will be a wreath-laying ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Civil War Memorial at Town Hall and Veterans Memorial Park to honor residents lost in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and Army soldiers 2nd Lt. Matthew S. Coutu and Capt. Matthew J. August, who lost their lives in Iraq. After the parade, there will be a ceremony at the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial on the grounds of Elms Grove cemetery.
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North Providence Memorial Day Parade and Celebration
When: 1 p.m.
Route: The parade starts at the North Providence High School front parking lot and proceeds east on Mineral Spring Avenue, turns onto Douglas Avenue and ends at Gov. John A. Notte Jr. Park.
What to know: The parade ends with a celebration at the park that includes hamburgers, hot dogs, lemonade and ice cream.
Westerly-Pawcatuck Memorial Day Parade
When: 9:30 a.m.
Route: The parade starts at the rear of the Pawcatuck (Connecticut) Shopping Center down West Broad Street and into Westerly on High Street.
What to know: After the parade there will be music, a guest speaker, a flag retirement ceremony, and a luncheon at Harley P. Chase Pawcatuck VFW Post 1265, 160 South Broad St., Pawcatuck.
Ceremonies
Strewing of Flowers
When: 10:30 a.m.
Where: Storer Park, Washington St., Newport
What to know: VFW Post 406 Newport will join with local Navy, Coast Guard and the Newport Fire Department to provide a traditional ceremony memorializing servicemembers that have been lost at sea by casting flowers into Newport Harbor in their memory
Pawtucket Memorial Day Ceremony
When: 11 a.m.
Where: Veterans Memorial Amphitheater, 175 Roosevelt Ave.
What to know: The event is hosted by the City of Pawtucket and the Pawtucket Veterans Council.
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South Kingstown Memorial Day Ceremony
When: 10:30 a.m.
Where: Saugatucket Park, 101 High Street, Wakefield.
What to know: South Kingstown is not doing a parade this year because of the major parade on Saturday, June 17, to celebrate the town’s 300th anniversary. A Memorial Day Ceremony will be conducted by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 916 and Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 325 and include speakers, a performance by the South Kingstown High School March Band, the Wakefield Concert band and more. At the conclusion, a wreath will be laid on Saugatucket Veterans Monument and one will be tossed into the Saugatucket River.
Warren Memorial Day Ceremonies
When: 8:15 a.m.
Where: The ceremony will move between three locations: the Town Wharf, the Town Commons and the South Burial Ground.
What to know: A ceremony will be held at the Town Wharf before moving to the Town Commons for about an hour and then the burial grounds. Each stop includes prayers, speeches, music and other honors to remember those who died.
State of Rhode Island’s 49th Annual Memorial Day Ceremony
When: 1 p.m.
Where: Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 301 South County Trail, Exeter
What to know: The Rhode Island Office of Veterans Services will host the annual ceremony, commemorating the men and women who have died while in military service. The annual event remembers those who gave their all in the service of America and in the service of freedom. Elizabeth Cote, recipient of Rhode Island’s Patriot’s Pen, will serve as the featured speaker.
If you know of an event that should be added to this list, email klandeck@gannett.com with the relevant information.
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: RI Memorial Day Events 2023: Parades and ceremonies around the state
