Home > News > Article Display

Local Memorial Day observances to honor service members’ sacrifices

By Jessica Casserly, 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs / Published May 11, 2018

Members of Team Hanscom can attend numerous local Memorial Day parades and ceremonies scheduled to take place in late May. Memorial Day is an opportunity to pause and remember the sacrifices of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who gave their lives to secure our freedoms.
PHOTO DETAILS  /   DOWNLOAD HI-RES 1 of 1

Members of Team Hanscom can attend numerous local Memorial Day parades and ceremonies scheduled to take place in late May. Memorial Day is an opportunity to pause and remember the sacrifices of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who gave their lives to secure our freedoms.

PRINT | E-MAIL

HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Members of Team Hanscom can attend numerous local Memorial Day parades and ceremonies scheduled to take place in late May.

Memorial Day was officially observed for the first time May 30, 1868, at Arlington National Cemetery as a way of honoring those who died during the Civil War. Today, Memorial Day is an opportunity to pause and remember the sacrifices of Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who gave their lives to secure our freedoms.

The city of Somerville will host their annual Veterans’ Memorial parade May 20.

The parade, which honors veterans and first responders, will step off from Somerville City Hall at 3 p.m. and travel along Highland Avenue to Davis Square. The parade route will end at Holland and Broadway Streets.

Col. Roman Hund, installation commander, Chief Master Sgt. Henry Hayes, installation command chief, and the Patriot Honor Guard will march in the parade.

For additional information on this event, visit https://www.somervillema.gov/events/2018/05/20/somerville-veterans-memorial-parade-begins-3-pm-city-hall.

Bedford's Memorial Day ceremonies will be held May 28.

The Bedford parade will step off at 11 a.m. at Mudge Way and proceed to the WWI Memorial at the Bedford Common. The Bedford Historical Society will hold a brief ceremony and the procession will then continue down Great Road to Veterans Memorial Park.

The formal ceremonies will begin at approximately 11:15 a.m. and will include remarks from state and town officials. Hund will serve as a featured speaker for the Bedford ceremonies and the Patriot Honor Guard will also participate.

In the event of heavy rain, outside activities will be canceled and the Veterans Memorial Park ceremonies will be moved to the Bedford High School Auditorium with an 11 a.m. start.

For additional information on Bedford’s activities, contact Paul Purchia at 781-789-8974.

The town of Concord will also host Memorial Day events May 28.

The observances will begin with a remembrance ceremony at Rideout Field on Laws Brook Road at 9 a.m. The parade will assemble at Keyes Road at 10:45 a.m. and step off at 11 a.m. The parade will proceed to Monument Square for a brief ceremony and the reading of the Roll of Honor. Hayes will represent the base at Concord’s events.

For additional information on this event, visit http://www.concordnet.org/DocumentCenter/View/10976/2017-2018-Public-Ceremonies-Calendar-of-Events-updated-21218.

In addition, the town of Lexington will hold a Memorial Day parade and ceremonies May 28.

The Lexington parade will step off from the Hosmer House, which is located next to the Police Station, promptly at 10 a.m. The procession will make stops to place wreaths at the Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient Thomas Cosgrove's grave, the Civil War Memorial, the Police Memorial, the Korean/Vietnam Memorial, the WWII Memorial and Captain Parker's grave.

The parade will end at the Lexington Battle Green where a formal ceremony will take place. The parade is scheduled to arrive at the Green between 11:10 and 11:20 a.m. Lt. Col. Kenneth Ferland, 66th Air Base Group deputy commander, will be the featured speaker during the Battle Green ceremony.

In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled and the ceremonies will be moved indoors to Cary Hall for a 10 a.m. start. A decision regarding weather will be made by noon Sunday, May 27, and a message will be left on the Town Celebrations Committee’s voicemail.

For additional information on the Lexington events, contact the Town Celebrations Committee at 781-698-4640.