Memorial Day weekend parades, ceremonies and events in the Brockton area
BROCKTON − Memorial Day, which is observed each year on the last Monday of May, began in 1868 as Decoration Day after the Civil War ended as a time set aside to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers.
After World War I, the holiday evolved to honor American military personnel who died in all wars.
Today, men and women still give their lives so America can remain free.
Memorial Day is a time to reflect and think about all of the soldiers who have given the ultimate gift − their lives.
You can honor their memory by visiting cemeteries and memorials, placing flowers and flags on their graves and watching or participating in parades.
Brockton's Memorial Day parade will step off Monday at the War Memorial Building.
In East Bridgewater, following the commemoration on Town Common, a chicken barbecue will be held at the Commercial Club.
The Raynham Memorial Day parade on Saturday has a new route.
Here are the Memorial Day weekend parades, ceremonies and other events scheduled in local communities.
ABINGTON
The Memorial Day ceremony will take place at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 29, inside Mount Vernon Cemetery at the Veterans’ Lot. This ceremony will focus on honoring the people from Abington who have died while fighting for our freedom. The ceremony will be led by the veterans' organizations in Abington.
AVON
Memorial Day parade will commence at noon on Saturday, May 27, at St. Michael’s Church, 87 N. Main St. The parade will proceed past the fire station, on Route 28, by the Avon Town Offices and will conclude at the VFW. The Council on Aging will have seating available for seniors to watch the parade in front of the Town Offices. All parade participants and spectators are welcome to attend a free cookout after the parade at the VFW.
BRIDGEWATER
A ceremony will be held at 9 a.m. Monday, May 29, at the Town Common.
BROCKTON
Memorial Day parade steps off at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, beginning at the War Memorial Building, 156 W. Elm St. Parade route will be West Elm Street, to Newbury Street, to Belmont Street, to Main Street, onto Crescent Street and marching up VFW Parkway to the City Hall Amphitheater, 45 School St., where there will be a ceremony at 10:30 a.m. In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled and a ceremony will be held inside the War Memorial Building.
EAST BRIDGEWATER
The commemoration of Memorial Day will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29, on the Town Common. Following the ceremony, there will be a family-style chicken barbecue in the Peter Moskos Pavilion at the Commercial Club.
EASTON
The Memorial Day parade will step off at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 29, from the North Easton Post Office (corner of Main and Washington streets). The parade will proceed on Main Street and turn onto Sullivan Avenue and continue to Veterans Memorial Park, where the parade will conclude with a ceremony. After the ceremony, there will be games, and food and ice cream. In addition to veterans, VFW, and American Legion members marching in the parade, the OAHS Marching Band, Scouts, floats, classic cars, fire and police vehicles and other organizations will participate. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. at the VFW Hall, 61 Rockland St.
HANSON
The parade will start at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, at the Indian Head School on Liberty Street and conclude at Fern Hill Cemetery on High Street. There will be a brief opening ceremony at the Indian Head School, with the flag being honored and lowered to half-mast with an Honor Guard salute. Then the parade will march on Liberty Street, stopping at the Town Hall to post a wreath and gun salute at the Civil War monument, and then proceed to Fern Hill Cemetery, where a ceremony with readings and patriotic honors will be conducted.
HOLBROOK
The Holbrook Memorial Day ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 29, at the Holbrook Town Hall.
MIDDLEOBORO
The Memorial Day parade steps off at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, from the Town Hall parking lot. The ceremony will follow the parade at the War Memorial Park in front of Town Hall.
RANDOLPH
A veterans' Sunday service will be held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 28, at the First Baptist Church, 519 N. Main St. A ceremony will be held at Oakland Cemetery at noon and then followed up with a ceremony at Linwood Memorial Park, 490 North St. at 1 p.m. in remembrance of Jewish veterans.
On Memorial Day, events area as follows:
Randolph Elks will have a ceremony at 8:30 a.m. at the Memorial in front of Town Hall.
Town of Randolph and Veterans Council Ceremony at 9 a.m. at the War Memorial. Featured speaker will be US Navy Commander John Benda. He was 76th in command of USS Constitution. He currently serves at the Navy Leadership and Ethics Center in Newport, Rhode Island.
Upon conclusion of the ceremonies in Crawford Square, all units will meet up at the parking lot next to Zapustas Rink for a march to St. Mary’s and Central Cemetery. No March on North Street is planned, but units will march from the parking lot to the two cemeteries. Ceremonies will be held at Central Cemetery at 10:15 a.m. and at St. Mary’s Cemetery at 10:45 a.m.
Upon conclusion of ceremonies, all units will march to the Zapustas Ice Arena parking lot and depart from there to AMVETS Post 51 on AMVETS Lane for refreshments.
RAYNHAM
The parade will step off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 27, at the Raynham Middle School. The parade will proceed on Titicut Road, turn left onto White Street, proceed through the White and Pleasant streets intersection, turning left onto Pleasant Street. The parade will continue on Pleasant Street, passing the Merrill Elementary School. Across from the LaLiberte Elementary School upper parking lot, the parade will turn left onto Darrington Drive, proceed on Darrington Drive, turn right back onto Titicut Road and then return to the Raynham Middle School, where the annual Memorial Day Ceremony will take place. Parking to watch the parade will be available at the Merrill and LaLiberte elementary schools and at the Raynham Middle School, and viewing will be available all along the parade route.
ROCKLAND
The town's Memorial Day Observance and Ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday, May 29, at the Rockland Veterans Memorial on Taunton Street. The ceremony will include a Grand Marshall, a guest speaker, Gold Star Family honors, several persons reading patriotic tributes, and the Rockland High School Band led by John Piazza and his trumpet. Rockland Fire and Police Honor Guardswill participate, as well as other community members. Rockland Fire will also be flying the US flag from their ladder trucks. Parking will be available in the school parking lot. Bring a folding chair and prepare for the weather accordingly.
STOUGHTON
A Memorial Square Dedication, at the corner of Park and Boylston streets, will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, May 29, to honor William J. Angelos. Angelos served the country for seven years in the Army National Guard. He was lifelong Stoughton resident and active in the Stoughton community.
WEST BRIDGEWATER
The annual Memorial Day Commemorative Service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 29, at the War Memorial Park. The event will include an invocation and benediction by Pastor John Riccio of West Bridgewater New England Baptist Church, speeches by Town Moderator Jason Ross and Selectman Anthony Kinahan flag raising by the West Bridgewater Boy Scouts, Taps performed by Nathan Trott, and wreath laying.
Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today.
This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton-area Memorial Day weekend parades, ceremonies and events
