See below for a list of local Memorial Day parades and ceremonies in 2024.
Teaching the meaning of Memorial Day to your children can be tricky. It's easy to get lost in the rush of picnics, parades and fun during what many see as the unofficial start to summer. However, communities all around the United States will hold celebrations to pay respect and remembrance to those who have died serving our country. These events can be a wonderful way to teach your children about the true meaning of Memorial Day.
Did you know that ...
- The Grand Army of the Republic began decorating the graves of fallen service members with flowers in May 1868, which was then known as "Decoration Day".
- In 1971 Congress declared Memorial Day a national holiday, to be observed on the last Monday in May, moving it from the static date of May 30, in order to create a 3-day weekend.
- On the Thursday before Memorial Day, small American flags are placed at each of the 400,000+ gravestones at Arlington National Cemetery and other cemeteries nation-wide.
- To encourage more people to observe Memorial Day, Congress passed the National Moment of Remembrance Act in 2000, which asks people to stop what they are doing at 3:00pm local time and observe a minute of silence to honor those who lost their lives defending the country.
- On Memorial Day, the flag should first be raised to the top of the staff, then slowly lowered to half-staff, until noon when it should be raised to the top of the staff for the rest of the day.
- Red poppies are considered the Memorial Day flower. There is a poem called "In Flanders Fields" that refers to the fields of poppies growing among soldiers' graves during the First World War.
"We come, not to mourn our dead soldiers, but to praise them." ~Francis A. Walker
For further reading, visit:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Arlington National Cemetery on Wikipedia
Local Memorial Day parades and ceremonies (all on Monday, May 27):
Acton
The Acton Memorial Day Parade will depart from Gates school at 10am and proceed along Spruce Street to Mass Ave to Windsor Ave into Mt. Hope Cemetery. The main ceremony will take place at Mt. Hope Cemetery at 10:40am. After will continue down Central St and finish with an abbreviated ceremony at West Acton Common on Mass Ave.
Bedford
The Annual Bedford Memorial Day Parade departs from Mudge Way at 10:15 AM and proceed to Veterans Memorial Park (across from Whole Foods) for ceremonies.
Boxborough
The annual Memorial Day parade will depart at 8:30 AM from Wetherbee Lane on Hill Road, it will proceed on Hill Road to North Cemetery, turn left down Middle Road to Town Hall, and proceed from Town Hall across Rte 111 and continues down Stow Road to South Cemetery.
Carlisle
In 2022 the Carlisle ceremony began at 9:30 AM followed by an assembly at the Corey Auditorium and a small parade at 10:45 AM. No details have been confirmed for 2024.
Concord
The morning ceremony assembles at Rideout Field on Laws Brook Road at 8:30 AM and proceeds to Kenneth Dunn Square for the flag raising and brief ceremony at 9 AM. At 10:30 AM, the parade re-assembles at Keyes Road for an 11 AM step-off for the afternoon ceremonies. The parade proceeds to Monument Square for a brief ceremony and the reading of the Roll of Honor.
Lexington
There will be a ceremony and a performance by the Lexington High School band at Cary Hall at 11 AM.
Lincoln
A small parade will start at 9:45 AM, followed by a ceremony on the Library lawn and a free cookout by the Lincoln Police and Fire departments.
Maynard
The Memorial Day Parade will leave the Mill & Main Main Street parking lot at 11 AM and proceed from Main Street to Summer Street to Nason Street.
Stow
The parade will form up at 1:40 and steps off at 2:00 pm. The parade will march down to Brookside Cemetery, then return to the Common
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