Memorial Day weekend ceremonies in Newport honor those that gave all in service of country

Will Richmond and Katie Landeck, Newport Daily News
·3 min read

Honoring those service members who sacrificed their lives for this country, Memorial Day is Monday, May 29, this year.

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 events and ceremonies happening around Newport County this 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

More than 7,000 boots are on display at Fort Adams State Park, each carrying the name of a service member who died in the post-9/11 war on terror. The Boots on the Ground for Heroes memorial — organized by Operation Stand Down Rhode Island —will be open to the public through Memorial Day.
More than 7,000 boots are on display at Fort Adams State Park, each carrying the name of a service member who died in the post-9/11 war on terror. The Boots on the Ground for Heroes memorial — organized by Operation Stand Down Rhode Island —will be open to the public through Memorial Day.

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.

Patriotic Concert

When: Sunday 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.

Newport Memorial Day Ceremony

When: Monday, noon

Where: In front of Newport City Hall

What to know: The American Legion, Post No. 7 and the Newport Veterans of Foreign Wars, Conover-Leary Post No. 406, will lead a ceremony. Commander Colin K. Kennedy, commanding officer of the Navy Reserve Center Newport will be the guest speaker.

Climb the Miantonomi Park Tower

The 80-foot-tall Miantonomi Tower, in Newport's Miantonomi Park, was built in 1929 from a design by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White.
The 80-foot-tall Miantonomi Tower, in Newport's Miantonomi Park, was built in 1929 from a design by the architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White.

When: Monday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Where: Miantonomi Park

Newport residents and visitors are invited to climb to the top of Newport as the Miantonomi Park Tower opens to the public.

This event, which is being organized by the city, Miantonomi Park Commission, and the Aquidneck Land Trust, aims to recognize the historical significance of the tower as a memorial to the veterans of World War I.

Completed in 1929; the 100-foot stone tower was designed by William Kendall of the renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead & White and stands atop one of the highest points in Newport.

Adults and families are welcome, but children must be accompanied by an adult. The interior stone steps, lead to a narrow metal staircase that ascends to the top observation deck.

Strewing of Flowers

When: Monday, 10:30-11 a.m.

Where: Storer Park, Newport

What to know: The members of VFW Post 406, Newport, invite the public to a special Memorial Day ceremony to remember and honor service members from all branches of the U.S. Military that have been lost at sea during peace and wartime.

Following a Presentation of Colors, local leaders will reflect on those lost. Attendees will then cast flowers into Newport Harbor.

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Newport Memorial Day weekend ceremonies include Boots on the Ground