Memorial Day Weekend is upon us, and the North Shore knows how to celebrate. This solemn American holiday is federally recognized on the last Monday of May, honoring men and women of the military lost or killed in service.
Salem:
This coming Monday, the Witch City celebrates its 152nd year of annual Memorial Day festivities. Look for the 65 installed Veterans Squares signs around the City, each providing information and dedicated to a Salem service member killed in action – the Veterans Squares signs can be found on existing street sign posts.
Sunday, May 27
10:30 a.m. – Wreath-laying ceremony (Veterans Section of St. Mary’s Cemetery, North Street)
11:00 a.m. – Naval cannon salute to those lost at sea (Winter Island)
Noon – Memorial Mass at St. John’s on St. Peter Street
1:00 p.m. – Collation, open to the public (Polish League of American Veterans, Daniels Street)
Monday, May 28
10:30 a.m. – Memorial Day Parade departs from Commercial Street. Free Salem Trolley rides are available for any veteran who would like to participate in the parade, but is unable to march.
11:00 a.m. – Memorial Day Ceremony (Greenlawn Cemetery)
12:30 p.m. – Collation, open to the public (Veterans of Foreign Wars, 95 Derby Street)
For detailed information: salem.com/home/events/178253
Newburyport:
This port city honors its mariner heritage with a wreath throwing ceremony from a coastguard cutter. Following the waterfront march, a wreath will be thrown by the coastguard, in remembrance of coastguard, Navy, and Merchant Mariners who have lost their lives in service.
Monday, May 28
10:15 a.m. – Assembly at the CVS parking lot on Pond Street
10:45 a.m. – Walk to City Hall
11:00 a.m. – Invocation by Major Todd Hughes, Salvation Army
Star Spangled Banner – Newburyport High School Marching Band
Pledge of Allegiance – led by local scouts.
Recitation of Recently Departed Veterans –Mayor Donna Holaday
?100-year-old Guest of Honor – William Dzsiadosz
The Great War in Newburyport – Kevin Hunt
Newburyport High School Marching Band – Armed Forces Medley
Memorial March to the Waterfront
This portion honors fallen Coastguardsmen, Navy and Merchant Mariners who have given their lives for this country. A wreath is thrown on the water from a Coast Guard cutter holding close to the Boardwalk by the Black Cow.
Newburyport High School Marching Band plays the Coast Guard Hymn – Semper Paratus
The Newburyport Police Honor Guard render a rifle volley.
A wreath is thrown from the Coast Guard Cutter
The parade continues up State Street to the Veterans’ Cemetery on the corner of Pond Street and Auburn Street.
Veterans Cemetery (Estimated arrival – Noon)
Mayor Holaday places a wreath at Veterans’ Memorial
Benediction at the Cemetery – Major Todd Hughes, Salvation Army
Amazing Grace – Taps – Newburyport High School Marching Band
Newburyport Police Honor Guard Rifle Volley
Local scouts place a daisy on each veteran’s grave
Rain location – City Hall Auditorium
For detailed information: cityofnewburyport.com/home/news/newburyports-memorial-day-events
Beverly:
The Beverly parade will feature two operational tanks and half-track vehicles, classic cars, motorbikes, a marching band, WWII reenactors, and a veteran rifle salute. Photos with military tanks and vehicles can be taken at the preceding Sunday’s BBQ fundraiser.
Sunday, May 27
11 a.m. Ceremony at Independence Park, 33 Lothrop St., to be followed by a cookout at the Herman A. Spear Post 331, 3 Judson St. Bring the family to see real, operational tanks and tracked vehicles.
Monday, May 28
9:30 a.m. – Beverly Farms parade. Veterans march a one-mile route from Private Anthony Rezza Road to West Beach, with stops at several locations to lay wreaths at memorials honoring veterans. Upon completion, there will a Howitzer Salute at West Beach, 110 West St.
2 p.m. – Downtown Beverly parade. The parade will follow the same route as in previous years, starting out at the Spear Post, moving south down Cabot Street, then west on Broadway over to Odell Veterans Memorial Park, 164 Rantoul St., for a brief ceremony, before heading up Rantoul Street and back to the Spear Post, where a post parade meal will be served.
For detailed information: beverlyma.gov
North Andover:
The town of North Andover will be recognizing fallen service members including local civil war veterans buried in the town’s Ridgewood Cemetery. Parade services will end in the cemetery, followed by a guest speech from Chief Warrant Officer 4 Gerry Izzo (a Black Hawk pilot in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993).
Monday, May 28
The parade steps off at 10:15 a.m., ceremony to follow at Ridgewood Cemetery.
Inclement weather ceremony will be at the North Andover Middle School Auditorium at 10:30 a.m.
For detailed information: northandoverma.news/2018/05/24/memorial-day-ceremony
Marblehead
Saturday, May 26
9 a.m. – Grave flagging at Waterside Cemetery (Meet at Bell Tower)
Sunday, May 27
1 p.m. – VFW Veterans Service at Star of the Sea Cemetery (Public Welcome)
Monday, May 28
Memorial Day Parade (Muster at Old Town House)
8 a.m. – Clark Landing Service
9 a.m. – Main Parade Begins
Honorary Grand Marshal: Frank Kelley, USMC
Principal Speakers:
Memorial Park: Capt. Robert Erbetta, USN
Waterside Cemetery: William Tracy, US Merchant Marine
For detailed information: marblehead.org/home/news/2018-memorial-day-weekend-festivities