Memorial Day

Start your Memorial Day weekend with a 5k or 10k run or walk to honor the memory of a local Saugus veteran. Scott J. Procopio was on his second deployment as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom, having previously served in Fallujah in 2005. He was killed in action as a result of a roadside bomb on the morning of April 2, 2006 in Ramadi Iraq. The Race will start in Saugus Center.

In Manchester, legion members and parade participants will assemble Monday at 8:30 a.m. at the Amaral-Bailey Post 113 for a brief seaside service. Wreaths and flowers will be dropped into the harbor in remembrance of those lost at sea. The parade then will move on to the Pleasant Grove Cemetery to salute fallen armed-forces personnel.

The Danvers Memorial Day parade begins at Town Hall at 9 a.m. sharp, and will follow the traditional route of previous years - down Sylvan Street, through downtown and back to Town Hall. Stops and placement of wreaths will be at the Porter Cemetery on High Street, Lane Parkway, and the Memorial Flag Pole in Danvers Square. A reviewing stand will be at the corner of Elm and Essex streets. The Memorial Day exercise will commence at Town Hall upon parade completion. Any veterans interested in marching arrive at 8:30.

Memorial Day ceremonies in Beverly Farms are hosted  by the Michael J. Cadigan American Legion Post. Veterans march a 1-mile route from Private Anthony Rezza Road to West Beach, with stops at seven locations to lay wreaths at memorials honoring veterans, where ancestors of veterans are active participants. The parade leaves Rezza Road at 9:30 a.m. and ends at West Beach where a howitzer and rifle salutes, and the tossing of wreaths into the water to honor those who died at sea.

In lieu of a Memorial Day Parade, Beverly has decided to hold a ceremony at Odell Park to facilitate the needs of older veterans who would like to participate, but are unable to complete the parade route due to physical limitations. All of the elements that usually make up the parade, including veterans groups, police and fire color guards, Scouts, ROTC students and the high school band, will take part in the ceremony at the park.

Peabody Celebrates Memorial Day by remembering fallen veterans with services, a parade and a ceremony at the Peabody City Hall.  A service will be held at 9am the Cedar Grove Cemetary followed by a parade at 11 am.  Parade begins on Washington Street at the corner of Hourihan Street and ends at City Hall, where there will be a wreath-laying ceremony in front of the World War I, World War II, Korean and Vietnam war monuments. The parade marches back to the VFW where a collation will be held.

The Saugus Veterans Council Memorial Day Parade will start on Jackson Street at 9:00 am to Cliftondale Square along Lincoln Avenue to Central Street then onto Winter Street to the Veterans’ lot at Riverside Cemetery for graveside services including an invocation and a '21 Gun Salute'. The parade will re-form and march to Saugus Town Hall for the memorial ceremony with Grand Marshall, Norm Hansen and Keynote Speaker, LCDR Stephen Harris.

The Museum of Fine Arts will honor Memorial Day with an Open House and will waive all admission fees. Visitors can enjoy complimentary admission to the MFA's galleries, family activities and performances.

Art-making activities for children, spotlight talks presented by the Museum’s Teen Arts Council, and introductory tours to the Museum’s collection will be available. The MFA’s Memorial Day Open House also offers families the opportunity to view special exhibition Alex Katz Prints, a retrospective of Katz’s work consisting of 130 works, free of admission.

Assemble in front of CVS parking lot, Pond Street 10:15 AM Walk/March to City Hall 10:45 – Joining us are member of our local 182nd Engineering Co. (SAPPERS) and all veterans are welcomed.

• City Hall – Invocation 11:00 Star Spangled Banner – Newburyport High School Marching Band under the direction of Joe Nuccio, his 27th year. The vocalist is Barron Brissett Jr., from Newburyport, a retired Air Force veteran and professional baritone.
• Pledge of Allegiance – Kelly Bennett and her two sons Nick and Daniel. Kelly’s husband is presently serving with the United States Army.
• Introductions of elected officials and Guest Speakers
• March to the Waterfront – This portion of the parade will honor fallen Coastguardsmen, Navy and Merchant Marine who have given their lives for this country. A forty-seven foot Coast Guard cutter will be holding close to the Boardwalk. The Newburyport High School Marching Band will play the Coast Guard Hymn – Semper Paratus. The Newburyport Police Honor Guard will render a rifle volley of three shots. A wreath will be thrown from the Coast guard Cutter The parade continues up State Street to the Veterans’ Cemetery on the corner of Pond Street and Route One. A Gold Star pennant will be unfurled. Estimated arrival time 12:30.
• Gettysburg Address recited by students from the Nock Middle School.
• Benediction at the Cemetery Solemn Music & Taps – Newburyport High School Marching Band Newburyport Police Honor Guard Rifle Volley Rain will move the ceremony inside to the City Hall Auditorium

Thne Salem MA Memorial Day Parade begins at North Street, at the foot of the bridge, and proceeds to Greenlawn Cemetery for services. All are invited for lunch afterward at Witch City Post 1524, Veterans of Foreign Wars, at 95 Derby St. Salem residents may pick up United States grave flags at the Veterans Services Office, located on the third floor of the Senior Center at 5 Broad St.