REGION – Area communities are all gearing up for Memorial Day observances on Monday as many welcome a return to more traditional parades and ceremonies following two years of COVID-19 disruptions.
After some stormy weather in recent days, forecasts called for largely clear skies as of Saturday night as community members get set to gather on area Main Streets and around memorials.
See specific plans for Westborough, Northborough, Southborough, Marlborough, Shrewsbury, Hudson and Grafton…
WESTBOROUGH
Memorial Day services will begin in Westborough on Monday at Minutemen Park at 8:30 a.m.
The day will then include a full slate of other ceremonies and a parade, culminating with a ceremony at the Forbes Municipal Building at 11:00 a.m.
Westborough will hold its Memorial Day observances under the town’s new Hometown Heroes banners, which were hung for the first time this month.
See a full list of ceremony locations and times: https://www.town.westborough.ma.us/sites/g/files/vyhlif5176/f/news/press_release_5_20_2022_1.pdf
NORTHBOROUGH
Northborough will hold its Memorial Day observances beginning at the Civil War Memorial in town at 12 p.m. on Monday.
Observances will continue at the nearby Gulf War Memorial before the parade itself steps off around 12:15 p.m.
The route will take marches east along Route 20, turning onto Hudson Street for at stop at the Tri-War memorial.
The parade will proceed next to the World War I memorial before concluding at the Howard Street Cemetery with a ceremony there.
See a map detailing the parade route and stops: https://www.town.northborough.ma.us/home/news/memorial-day-parade-and-ceremonies-monday-may-30th-12noon
SOUTHBOROUGH
Southborough will begin its Memorial Day parade at 9 a.m. on Monday.
There will then be stops at the Rural Cemetery, the Burnett Cemetery and the Revolutionary War Cemetery before another ceremony at the Civil War Monument “to recall those from Southborough who served and those who gave their lives for freedom,” as noted in a message on the town’s Twitter page.
MARLBOROUGH
Marlborough’s Memorial Day parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Monday at the American Legion headquarters on Maple Street.
The parade will then proceed to Main Street before finishing at Memorial Square with a ceremony and speakers.
The parade will make stops prior to that Memorial Square finale for ceremonies at monuments to veterans of the Vietnam War, the Korean Conflict, World Wars I and II, the Spanish American War and the Civil War.
See full plans: https://www.marlborough-ma.gov/home/news/memorial-day-parade
SHREWSBURY
This year’s Shrewsbury Memorial Day parade will form on Monday at 9 a.m. at Shrewsbury’s Town Hall. The parade will kick off at 9:30 a.m. to head to the Town Center for, among other things, the Memorial Day address, which will be given by Gold Star mother Tracy Racine.
The parade will then proceed to Mountain View Cemetery for additional services.
See a full parade lineup and schedule of events: https://shrewsburyma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11667/Memorial-Day-Program-2022-
HUDSON
Hudson’s will hold Memorial Day observances beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday.
The Memorial Day parade will start at the AMVETS Post 208, proceeding down South Street, toward Houghton Street and back to Wood Square, the Gold Star Monument and Liberty Park next to the Hudson Public Library.
There will be a ceremony at the park with guest speakers.
GRAFTON
Grafton will start its Memorial Day programming with a ceremony at 7:30 a.m. at Old Farnumsville Cemetery, in South Grafton on Monday.
The Memorial Day parade will then stop for observances at 11 other locations, capping the day with a full ceremony and flag raising at the Grafton Common at 12 p.m.
Veterans and active members of the military are invited to join the American Legion, and VFW members in the parade, which is hosted by the Delisle-Goulet American Legion Post 92.
See a full list of observances: https://www.grafton-ma.gov/home/events/370861
