Editor’s Note: The Greenfield Recorder publishes a roundup of Memorial Day events annually. The following is a list of ceremonies in Franklin County and the North Quabbin region.
Ashfield will honor its veterans on Monday, May 31, at 10 a.m. on the town common. Included in the program will be the posting of the colors, musical selections and the presentation of a wreath. A gun salute and performance of “Taps” will follow. Additionally, Ashfield veteran Will Thayer will speak to address Memorial Day in a general context as well as in the context of Ashfield’s specific service.
Contrary to prior years, there will not be a parade. Guests are asked to follow the latest COVID-19 health safety protocols regarding social distancing and masks. The program will be canceled in the event of rain.
American Legion Post 102 is placing more than 1,700 flags at veterans’ graves at nine local cemeteries.
In addition, Post 102 is coordinating Memorial Day services with three other veterans’ agencies from Athol: the Marine Corps League, Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). According to a notice from American Legion Post 102 Commander Peter Newman, the services will start on Monday, May 31, at 10:15 a.m. on Starrett Avenue and conclude at Veterans Park at the intersection of Main and Exchange streets at 11:15 a.m. Stops will be made at Phillips Park and the YMCA.
Post 102’s Honor Guard also continues to participate in burial services at the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon on a weekly basis.
The Marine Corps League Oak Ridge Detachment, in partnership with the Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans’ Services District, is offering a Memorial Day barbecue on Monday, May 31, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Cushman Park.
According to Brian Brooks, commandant of the Marine Corps League Oak Ridge Detachment, the event will be both a barbecue and an informational opportunity, as veterans and their families will be able to learn about benefits that are available to them.
Food available includes chicken halves, salad, a roll and a baked potato for $15; burgers, with or without cheese, for $3; and hot dogs for $2.
The Bernardston Veterans Club on Hartwell Street will also be open from noon to 4 p.m. for its own cookout on Memorial Day, serving hamburgers, hot dogs and meatball grinders. Due to lasting health safety concerns, the club is not hosting a parade and formal ceremony at the Bernardston Center Ceremony.
The Colrain Memorial Veterans Park Committee is holding a small ceremony for veterans and their families on Sunday, May 30, at 10 a.m. on the town common.
According to Joan McQuade, a member of the Colrain Memorial Veterans Park Committee, the ceremony will include placing a wreath and a color guard. Fire engines and police cruisers are expected at the event.
The parade and ceremony on the town common traditionally held on Memorial Day have once again been replaced with a private ceremony at four cemeteries in town.
The private ceremonies, though not open to the public, will be recorded by Frontier Community Access Television (FCAT).
“I so look forward to this event every year, and it’s been heartbreaking to have to not do it last year and now this year,” said Selectboard member Trevor McDaniel. We just think it’s too soon … and coming up too quick. There’s a lot of planning that goes into it.”
The parade that Erving typically holds for Memorial Day will not be held this year. Administrative Coordinator Bryan Smith said it was not feasible to organize a parade while public health restrictions are in flux.
A private wreath-laying ceremony will be held by the Selectboard, Fire Department and Police Department. Photos will be publicized online afterward, Smith said.
The Gill Memorial Committee invites residents to participate in a Memorial Day service on Sunday, May 30. The ceremony will start at 9:30 a.m. at the Gill Church, and then move to the veterans’ memorial across the street. In attendance will be members of the Northfield Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9874 and the Marine Corps League Oak Ridge Detachment.
A truncated Memorial Day ceremony will be held at the Veterans Mall on Monday, May 31, starting at 11 a.m.
According to a notice from Tim Niejadlik, director of the Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans’ Services District, the ceremony will include remarks from Mayor Roxann Wedegartner, prayers and guest speakers, as well as a dedication to service members who lost their lives. There will be no parade this year.
“Please observe current pandemic rules regarding masks and social distancing in effect that day,” Niejadlik writes.
As in past years, Memorial Day festivities will start on Sunday with volunteers meeting at 2 p.m. at South Cemetery to place flags on veterans’ graves. They will then move on to the other cemeteries in town. The Selectboard will also lead memorial services held at Town Hall on Monday, May 31, at 10:30 a.m.
A service on the Montague Center village green will be held Sunday, May 30, at 11:15 a.m. It is open to the public.
The service, organized by the Montague Center Fire Department, will honor two World War II veterans who died earlier this year, Allen and Lillian Fiske. It will be led by Pastor James Koyama from the First Congregational Church of Montague, and members of the Montague Center Fire Department.
The town has planned three ceremonies for Sunday, May 30.
One is scheduled for Center Cemetery at 11 a.m., another is set for Mountain View Cemetery at 11:40 a.m. and the third is slated for North New Salem Cemetery at 12:15 p.m. The first two ceremonies will consist of processions to the respective ceremony’s first knoll, a reading of the rolls, a performance of “America (My Country, ’Tis of Thee),” a brief sermon and prayer by the Rev. James Ewen, the laying of a wreath, a performance of “Taps” and a march to the next cemetery.
The third ceremony will consist of a procession to the North New Salem Cemetery’s first knoll, a reading of the rolls, a reading of the Gettysburg Address by the Rev. Ted Boren, a brief sermon and prayer by Ewen, the laying of a wreath and a performance of “Taps.”
There will also be ceremonial wreaths displayed at the Branch Bridge and Styles cemeteries.
The Memorial Day parade will step off from the Trinitarian Congregational Church at 147 Main St. at 10 a.m. on Monday, May 31. The parade will stop for a brief remembrance ceremony at Pentecost Cemetery where the Pioneer Valley Regional School band will perform. The parade will continue along Main Street and conclude at the Town Hall veterans’ memorial.
The Orange American Legion Post 172 plans to place flags at veterans’ graves on Saturday, May 29. The plan is to meet at Post 172, located at 40 Daniel Shays Highway, at 9 a.m. to place flags at the South and Central cemeteries. Anyone willing to help is asked to arrive by 8:45 a.m.
The objective is to never miss a veteran’s grave, but this cannot be guaranteed. Anyone who notices a veteran’s grave without a flag can call the American Legion at 978-544-6023.
Deb Barber, president of Orange American Legion Auxiliary Unit 172, said she, her husband and her daughter would be placing flags in the West Orange, Holtshire, Jones and North Orange cemeteries on Thursday, May 27.
More services will be held on Monday, May 31, at Jones Cemetery at 8 a.m., North Orange Cemetery at 8:20 a.m., Tully Cemetery at 9 a.m. and Memorial Park at 11 a.m.
However, in the event of rain, the first two graveside services on Monday will be canceled. Still, if it does rain, the service planned for Tully Cemetery will be moved to the new Fire Station at 50 Millyard Road, and the ceremony planned for Memorial Park will be moved to the Orange American Legion at 40 Daniel Shays Highway.
The Memorial Day parade will form on Monday, May 31, at 9:30 a.m. at the flagpole on West Street for a reading of the honor rolls of the Police and Fire departments. From there it will move to the Village Cemetery for the reading of the Revolutionary War and Civil War honor rolls. The procession then walks to the memorial trees, where honor rolls of World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and for the actions in Grenada, Panama, Iraq and Afghanistan will be read. Participants will then march to the South Common. The memorial glag will be flown in memory of Fredrik Marsh and Peter West.
On Sunday, May 30, at 10 a.m. there will be a gathering of municipal vehicles on the town common. There will be a moving/driving parade around town ending at the common where there will be a gun salute and prayer.
Rowe will hold a service on the town common on Sunday, May 30, at 10:30 a.m. Residents are invited to bring their own chairs and to follow COVID-19 protocols by wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
Guests will be facing Rowe’s Veteran War Memorial Monument and American flag, and can expect to enjoy singing and poetry. Each name present on the town monument will be read through a rotation of volunteers, led by organizer John Magnago. The flag will be lowered for the duration of the service, about 30 minutes, but will be raised during a bugle performance of “Taps” to close out the event.
The public is invited to gather on the town common at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 31. After a brief ceremony that will include firing a cannon, a parade will walk to the Raymond Building, the Post Office and the Public Safety Building to raise the flags. The parade will then proceed to the Center Cemetery for a memorial service.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8503 and the Shelburne Memorial Day Committee will hold a Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 31, at 10 a.m. at the Arms Cemetery.
According to Joe Judd, Memorial Day Committee member, attendees will march into the cemetery to the Civil War monument. “Taps” will be performed and there will be a gun salute in honor of veterans who lost their lives. There will also be a reading of the Gettysburg Address and several speakers, and a wreath will be placed on the monument.
There will not be a parade this year.
Although there will be no parade, a ceremony similar to last year’s will be held at Riverside Cemetery on Friday, May 28.
The ceremony will likely include a performance of “Taps” by a member of the Frontier Regional School band. It will be recorded and streamed live via Zoom.
Unlike last year, however, the public will be allowed to view the ceremony in person, but will asked to maintain social distancing.
“I think that’s reasonable — scale it back and next year we can get back to our full celebration,” said Selectboard member David Pierce.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3295 will hold an abbreviated Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 31, at 11:45 a.m. at Town Hall.
The 20-minute ceremony will feature remarks from the VFW Post commander, followed by a three-volley salute and a performance of “Taps.”
The town is urging viewers to watch the ceremony on Frontier Community Access Television (FCAT).