Parades, remembrances: Memorial Day events planned in Greater New Bedford
Memorial Day is the one day of the year set aside to remember the sacrifices of the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military. This solemn day became a federal holiday in 1971, and it is held on the last Monday of May each year.
Across the U.S., it is marked by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings, and participating in parades to remember men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. Here are the local events happening to honor and remember this Memorial Day:
Dartmouth to honor the sacrifice with a Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 29: The Memorial Day Parade will be kicking off at 9 a.m. at the Town Landing on Gulf Road. The participants will cross the Padanaram Bridge and Causeway where the VFW Auxiliary will conduct the ceremonial wreath placement. After that, the procession will turn left onto Elm Street and proceed to the Elm Street Cemetery for a ceremony, with festivities concluding at the World War I memorial outside the old police station on Russells Mills Road.
Fairhaven to salute the brave with Memorial Day Parade
Monday, May 29: The annual Memorial Day Parade steps off from the intersection of Main and Center streets at 10 a.m. and proceeds north on Main Street to Riverside Cemetery. At the cemetery, there is a ceremony at the Civil War monument with participation from military and veterans groups and others.
Lakeville commemorative Memorial Day event
Monday, May 29: There will be a Memorial Day observance at 10:30 a.m. at the Town Office Building and Fire Station, 346 Bedford Street. The observance will move down to Dickran Diran Square and the Historic Town House. All members of the public are invited. In case of poor weather, the observance will take place indoors at the Historic Town House at the corner of Precinct and Bedford Streets.
Mattapoisett set to observe Memorial Day
Monday, May 29: Mattapoisett's Memorial Day services will be held at 1:30 p.m. at the Center School, 17 Barstow Street. The guest speaker is Colby Rottler, Commander, USN Retired.
Middleboro set to remember the fallen with a parade and ceremony
Monday, May 29: The Memorial Day Parade will kick off at 10 a.m. from the Town Hall parking lot, 10 Nickerson Avenue. The route is as follows: Right on Union Street, Right on Nickerson Avenue, Left on South Main Street, Left on Center Street, To Everett Square, Left on High Street, Left on Oak Street, Right on Center Street, Right on South Main Street, it will conclude on the Town Hall lawn. There will be an 11 a.m. ceremony following the parade at the Veterans’ Memorial Park saluting 50 Hometown Heroes who will be recognized in the Banner Project.
Marion to hold Memorial Day Remembrances
Monday, May 29: The Memorial Day Remembrances and Procession will start at 9 a.m. in front of the Music Hall at 164 Front Street. In the event of rain, the event will be relocated to the Multipurpose Room of Sippican Elementary School. It will be stepping off from the Music Hall northbound on Front Street, marching 0.6 miles up Front Street to the Veterans’ Memorial at Old Landing. Upon arrival at the Veterans’ Memorial, the town will pay tribute to our military’s “honored dead” who “gave the last full measure of devotion”. Residents are encouraged to attend the remembrances as well as stand along the parade route on Front Street between Cottage Street and Ryder Lane.
New Bedford has several events planned for Memorial Day
Saturday, May 27: The Greater New Bedford Civil War Round Table will conduct a memorial exercise at 9 a.m. at the Union Soldier's Burial Site at Rural Cemetery, 149 Dartmouth Street. These services typically include historical reenactments, music, and a gun salute.
Sunday, May 28: The American Legion will conduct a Memorial Day Exercise at 10 a.m. at the Veterans’ Plot in Pine Grove Cemetery, 1100 Ashley Boulevard. A Memorial Day Exercise will be held at noon at the Vietnam Veterans’ Honor Roll at New Bedford City Hall, 133 William Street on the William Street side of the building.
Monday, May 29: The American Legion will conduct a Memorial Day Exercise at 8:15 a.m. at the Veterans’ Plot in Rural Cemetery, 149 Dartmouth Street. The New Bedford Port Society’s Annual Memorial Day Fishermen's Service will be held at 10 a.m. at Pier 3.
Monday, May 29: 9 a.m. at St. John’s Cemetery. The Cape Verdean Veterans Memorial Foundation will hold a Memorial Day Service at the Veterans’ Plot in St. John’s Cemetery, 664 Allen St.
Monday, May 29: The City of New Bedford Memorial Day Parade will form at the intersection of Hathaway Boulevard and Parker Street beginning around 10:30 a.m. and stepping off at 11:30 a.m. The parade will march east on Parker Street to County Street. The parade will then turn left and head North on County Street. The parade will then turn right to head east on Pope Street, where it will take its final right turn into Clasky Common Park. There will be a Memorial Day service held at the reviewing stand at the conclusion of the parade and we encourage all participants to stay and take part in the service. This year's service will include the reading of the Gettysburg Address, Logan’s Orders, and a roll call of New Bedford’s Veterans who have passed away. Family and friends of Veterans who have passed away are invited to bring a flower to the service and place it at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in remembrance.
Rochester to host Memorial Day Boat Race
Monday, May 29: The Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race on the Mattapoisett River will take place starting at 8:30 a.m. at Hartley’s Reservoir on Snipatuit Road and finishing at the Mattapoisett Herring Weir at River Road and Route 6.
Westport is honoring the brave with wreath laying and a parade
Saturday, May 27: Memorial Day Wreath-Laying Ceremonies include the reading of the memorial poem, laying of wreath/bouquet toss, a rifle salute by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 207 honor guard, and playing of TAPS.
The ceremony schedule is as follows: 9 a.m. Veterans of Foreign Wars Post, start at VFW Post 8502 at 843 State Road; 9:15 a.m. American Legion Post at 489 Sanford Road; 9:30 a.m. Latessa Square at the intersection of Tickle Road and Oak Avenue; 10 a.m. Fontaine Bridge, at the bridge on Route 88; 10:15 a.m. Westport Point at the southernmost end of Main Road.
Anyone who wishes to observe the ceremonies should meet in the VFW parking lot no later than 9 AM, or at whichever location they choose at least 10 minutes prior to the designated time.
Monday, May 29: Kick-off for the Memorial Day Parade is 9:30 a.m. at the Town Hall, 816 Main Road. It will continue to Beech Grove Cemetery, 974 Main Road where there will be a ceremony at approximately 10 a.m. at the Veterans Monument.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Memorial Day parades and events planned in New Bedford
