Local towns to host Memorial Day parades, ceremonies

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HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Members of Team Hanscom can attend local town's Memorial Day parades and celebrations scheduled to take place on Monday, May 30.

On May 30, 1868, the first official Memorial Day observance was held at Arlington National Cemetery to honor those who died during the Civil War and to decorate their graves. Today, Memorial Day serves as an opportunity to pause and remember the sacrifices of more than one million Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen who gave their lives to secure our freedoms.

The town of Bedford's Memorial Day 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 parade 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.

Col. David R. Dunklee, installation commander, will serve as this year's keynote speaker for the Bedford ceremonies. In case 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 this event, contact Paul Purchia at 781-225-8974.

The town of Concord will also host Memorial Day events.

The morning ceremony will assemble at Rideout Field on Laws Brook Road at 8:30 a.m. and proceed to Kenneth Dunn Square in Concord for a flag raising and brief ceremony. The parade will assemble at Keyes Road at 10:30 a.m. for an 11 a.m. step off. The parade will proceed to Monument Square for a brief ceremony and the reading of the Roll of Honor.

For additional information on this event, visit http://www.concordma.gov/pages/ConcordMA_BComm/calendar.

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

The Lexington parade will step off from the Hosmer House, which is located next to the Police Station, promptly at 10 a.m. and 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. In the event of inclement weather, the parade will be canceled and the ceremonies will be moved indoors to the Lexington High School Auditorium for a 10 a.m. start.

For additional information on the Lexington events, call 781-698-4640.