Parades, ceremonies set for Memorial Day (2024)

Memorial Day is Monday, May 27, a time to remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to serve and protect this country.

A host of parades and remembrance ceremonies are scheduled as Merrimack Valley communities prepare to honor the fallen.

The following is a list of local events that will be held on Monday, May 27, unless otherwise specified.

MASSACHUSETTS

ANDOVER

The town’s Veterans Services and Patriotic Holiday Committee will hold its annual Memorial Day Parade beginning at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Elm and Florence streets. The parade can be observed from portions of Elm Street, Main Street, Punchard Avenue and Bartlet Street. Observances will take place at the following times and locations: West Parish Cemetery, 7 a.m.; St. Augustine Cemetery, 7:30 a.m., and Spring Grove Cemetery, 8 a.m.

HAVERHILL

The parade will step off at 10:45 a.m. in front of the Firefighting Museum at 75 Kenoza Ave. In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held in the City Hall auditorium, 4 Summer St. This year’s event is presented by the Commander of the Haverhill AmVets Post 147 and the Haverhill Veterans Services Department.

Participants will assemble at 10 a.m. The parade will travel down Main Street to Summer Street and to the Linwood Cemetery for a ceremony that will include a rifle salute to the fallen. Residents are encouraged to gather at the cemetery. Some chairs will be provided, however, you are welcome to bring your own chair.

LAWRENCE

The city will hold a Memorial Day ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Bellevue Cemetery, 100 Reservoir St. Keynote speaker will be Capt. Connor D. Flynn, U.S. Marine Corps, Officer Selection Officer, Recruiting Station Boston, who will honor the fallen. Participants include the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, a Civil War reenactment group.

METHUEN

The city’s Memorial Day activities start with coffee and doughnuts at 9 a.m. at the American Legion Post 122, 200 Broadway. Parade line-up starts in front of the Legion at 9:30 a.m., and the parade itself steps off at 10 a.m. The parade will gather for a brief ceremony at the American Legion monument at Walnut Grove Cemetery, then will return to Post 122. In the event of inclement weather, a ceremony will be held inside Post 122. At noon the VFW Post 8349 will host a ceremony at Elmwood Cemetery followed by sandwiches and beverages at 12:30 p.m. at Post 8349, 26 River St.

NORTH ANDOVER

The town’s Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10 a.m. at the Town Common. A ceremony will follow at Ridgewood Cemetery. In the event of inclement weather, services will be held in the Middle School Veterans Auditorium at 10:30 a.m.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

ATKINSON

The town will hold its Memorial Day Parade starting at 10:30 a.m. at Town Hall, 19 Academy Ave., with many events taking place prior to its start, including a decoration contest for bicycles and tricycles and a doll carriage parade sponsored by the Atkinson Women’s Civic Club. The theme is red, white and blue. The line-up begins at 9:30 a.m. with judging from the Town Hall’s front lawn.

The parade begins on Academy Avenue and will take a left onto Leroy before taking a right on Main Street to the Dow Common for a ceremony at 11 a.m.

After the ceremony, the annual cookout at the fire station will take place.

The Timberlane Community Music Association Band will perform and the Kimball House will be available for tours by the Atkinson Historical Society.

Contact Paula Holigan at 603-490-1301 or by email at paula@bigislandpond.com for more information.

DERRY

Derry’s Memorial Day Parade line-up is at 10 a.m. at Hood Commons, 55 Crystal Ave. The parade steps off at 11 a.m. and will proceed down Crystal Avenue, left onto East Broadway, ending at MacGregor Park for a short ceremony with speeches. Flags will be raised from half-staff to full-staff.

To celebrate local veterans, the Derry Village Rotary and Derry Rotary Clubs will host the annual Veterans Recognition Dinner at 5 p.m., May 30 at the Boys & Girls Club of Derry, 40 East Derry Road. The event is free for veterans and one guest to attend and is intended for Derry and the greater Derry area veterans.

Reservations end on May 27. To reserve your spot, call 603-434-6695 or email derryrotary@yahoo.com.

HAMPSTEAD

Hampstead’s observation of Memorial Day will take place starting at 10 a.m. at the bandstand at Meetinghouse Park behind Town Hall, 11 Main St.

The event will feature local youth, scouting and veterans groups, as well as local dignitaries. Awards will be presented to town patriots.

Bring lawn chairs and blankets for the hour of remembrance.

In the event of rain, the observance will be moved across the street to the Veterans Memorial Gymnasium.

Questions can be directed to Howie Steadman at 603-329-4288.

KINGSTON

The Kingston Veterans Club will hold a rolling parade for Memorial Day starting at 1 p.m. at Town Hall, 163 Main St.

There are plenty of areas to watch the parade and vehicles with flags are invited to participate. A short Memorial Day ceremony is at the Veterans Memorial.

For more information call Jim Voss at 603-702-1627.

LONDONDERRY

Londonderry will hold its traditional Memorial Day observances beginning with a parade stepping off at 11 a.m. from Robert Lincoln Way.

The parade will then head to the Town Common and nearby cemetery for tributes, laying of wreaths and other observances.

After the parade, the American Post Legion, 6 Sargent St., will hold an open house and cookout for new members.

NEWTON

Newton will host a Memorial Day parade throughout the town beginning at 9:45 a.m. from the Safety Complex, 8 Merrimac Road.

It will end at Willow Grove Cemetery on Whittier Street around 11 a.m. An honors commemoration will be conducted at the cemetery.

PLAISTOW

Plaistow will hold a Memorial Day parade starting at 9 a.m. in front of the Pollard School, 120 Main St.

The parade will proceed to the Plaistow Cemetery on Elm Street, where a brief service will take place.

The parade will then head back to the Town Hall Green, 145 Main St., for a speaking ceremony.

SALEM

The Salem Veterans Association will hold its annual Memorial Day Observance beginning at 10:15 a.m. Monday with a brief ceremony at the veterans section of Pinegrove Cemetery, 329 Main St. Following that,

A parade will follow and head west to Veterans Park where the main observance will start at 11 a.m. The ceremony will last 30 minutes. It is open to the public. Various civic organizations, the Salem Police and Fire Departments, and the Salem High School Chorus will participate.

There will be a brief road closure from Pinegrove Cemetery to Veterans Park from approximately 10:25 a.m. to 10:40 a.m.

SANDOWN

The town will observe Memorial Day at 11 a.m. with a service in the Old Meeting House, 31 Fremont Road. There will be no parade this year.

Doors open at 10:15 a.m. Attendees are asked to be seated prior to 11 a.m.

Each year, retired Lt. Col. Kevin Major memorializes a local service member killed in military service with a tribute story. The honoree is kept a surprise until the service.

This year, Major will tell the story of a young local man during the Civil War and who grew up in Sandown. His mother’s family had lived in Sandown since before the Revolution. He ran a local Wheelright Shop when he, and several other Sandown men, joined one of New Hampshire’s nine-month Infantry Regiments during the Union’s lowest point of the Civil War. He died less than a year later and his body was returned to Sandown.

Sandown Police will close Fremont Road to allow on-street parking. Parking for seniors or disabled is available on the Meeting House grounds.

All veterans in attendance will be recognized. Music will be provided by the Timberlane Regional High School and Middle School Choirs and by Sandown performers, Pam and Don Gaudreau and Sam Lyons.

WINDHAM

The town will hold its Memorial Day parade at 9:30 a.m. at Center School, 2 Lowell Road. The parade will continue down Lowell Road to Cobbetts Pond Road and then to Ministerial Road for a ceremony. Expect traffic delays on the roads noted above. The Rogers Field Parking lot will be closed to vehicles from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m

After the parade, local restaurant Old School Bar and Grill, 49 Range Road, will hold a patio party from 2 to 5 p.m.

The event will have live entertainment including steel drum music by Mr. Hot Pepper.

For more information, visit oldschoolbarandgrill.com

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