Despite cloudy skies and scattered storms, nothing could rain on the town’s 2024 Memorial Day parade on Monday morning.
Community members, organizations, and other groups in town participated in the parade, which began at 9 a.m. at the Old Town House before proceeding to Memorial Park for a service. At the park, retired four-star Army Gen. David McKiernan spoke at the service, along with U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton.
Prominent participants in the precession included Glover’s Regiment, Scout members, town officials, MHS students from the school’s marching band, and the varsity hockey team, which is coming off of a state championship this past winter.
Even well-known town resident Sid Tracy joined in with his 1966 Excalibur.
The parade then continued and ended at Waterside Cemetery, where Army veteran Tom Mathers spoke, while veterans and other community members laid wreaths on the graves of fallen veterans.
Throughout the weekend, there were a number of events and services held in town, honoring those who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. For many, 2024’s Memorial Day services meant even more with the weekend’s events being the last organized by Town Veterans Agent Dave Rodgers, who is retiring from the position.
Other events for Memorial Day began last Thursday with a veterans breakfast at the Council on Aging. A grave-flagging followed on Saturday morning at Waterside Cemetery. Community members gathered at Star of the Sea Cemetery on Sunday afternoon for a VFW veterans service.
