Above: Residents are invited welcome to take part in the Town’s traditional parade and ceremony honoring Memorial Day. (Photo by Joao Melo)
The long weekend coming up is about more than barbeques and family fun. Southborough will be holding its traditional ceremony to honor soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. In advance of the holiday, volunteers will be placing fresh flags at veterans’ graves.
Memorial Day Parade
On Monday morning, veterans, and local officials will march in the annual parade. The morning begins with veterans invited to gather at the VFW/Legion Post Headquarters (at the Community House, 28 Main Street). That gathering takes place at 8:30 am.
Participants for the parade should gather in advance in the Main St. Bank parking lot (corner of Rt. 30 and Newton St). Groups traditionally joining veterans on the march are the Boys Scouts, Cub Scouts, and Girl Scouts, and school bands.
At 9:00 am, the parade proceeds down Main Street, then to the cemeteries and memorials. Most years, a large crowd of residents follow along.
Following tradition, they will “pay honor and respect to those Veterans who have been laid to rest” at the Rural Cemetery, Burnett Cemetery and Revolutionary War Cemetery. The ceremonies include speeches/prayers, gun salutes and the trumpeting of Taps.
Participants will also “pay tribute at the Civil War Monument to honor those who died during the War Between States”. That includes a Trottier student’s traditional reading of the Gettysburg Address.
Observances will end at the All Wars Memorial with speakers and finish with the National Anthem.
Changing of the Flags
As usual, residents, veterans and scouts are encouraged to help prepare in advance of Memorial Day. This Friday, May 28th, at 6:00 pm, volunteers will gather to replace flags the US flags marking veterans’ graves.
The event takes place at the Rural Cemetery on Cordaville Road. Volunteers should meet in front of the Maintenance Building at the back of the cemetery.
Updated (5/25/22 10:30 am): The public invitation is issued by:
Steve Whynot – Commander – VFW Post 3276
Dan Kolenda – Commander – American Legion Post 161
