Towns to observe Memorial Day with parades and ceremonies

Date: 5/24/2023

On Monday, May 29, communities across the region will observe Memorial Day, the nationwide day of remembrance for members of the military who have died in service to the country.

Hampden will mark the occasion with a parade and ceremony, sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9397 and the town, beginning at 10 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 27 Somers Rd.

Marchers will make their way down Main Street to the veteran’s memorial across from the Town House. There, the ceremony will begin at 11 a.m.

After the commemoration, a concert will be performed by Jeff Gavioli and his Bad News Jazz and Blues Orchestra in front of Hampden Town Hall, 625 Main St. The concert is sponsored by a grant from the Hampden and Massachusetts Cultural Councils and by the Hampden Public Library Trustees. A hot dog social, hosted by the Hampden Fire Department will take place on the grounds between the Town House and the fire station, and the Police Department will serve ice cream.

Across the street, the Hampden Garden Club will be hosting its annual Memorial Day plant sale from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Academy Hall. Board of Selectmen member Donald Davenport said the hall, which is home to the Historical Society, will be open to “visitors wishing to view Hampden’s historical treasures cared for by the Historical Society.”

If there is inclement weather, the events will be in the Town House auditorium.

In East Longmeadow, American Legion Post 293 will host a Memorial Day ceremony at East Longmeadow High School on Monday, May 29, at 10:30 a.m. Veterans will march to the flagpole at the East Longmeadow High School and raise the flag from half-staff to the top of the flagpole.

A ceremony will then be conducted in the high school auditorium, honoring the 21 East Longmeadow military veterans who have died in the line of duty. Each name will be read aloud and honored.

Wilbraham will host its Memorial Day ceremony the day before, Sunday, May 28, at 11 a.m. The ceremony this year will take place at Crane Park Veteran Memorial at the intersection of Springfield and Main streets, according to Veteran’s Service Officer and Director of Veterans Affairs Jered Sasen, who also organized Hampden’s event this year.

Longmeadow will conduct its Memorial Day ceremony on May 29 at 9 a.m. on the Town Green. No further information was available as of press time.

Spanning across several days, the city of Springfield will observe Memorial Day through various events.
Beginning on May 24, all veterans’ graves in city-owned cemeteries are being flagged. Veterans Services Department Deputy Director Joe DeCaro said volunteers are required to assist with the flagging, as it typically takes an entire day to complete.

On Friday, May 26, at 12 p.m. a Memorial Day observance ceremony will take place on the front steps of City Hall. DeCaro will be joined by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Veterans Services Department Director Thomas Belton, along with guest speaker Helen Caulton-Harris. Five red, white and blue wreaths will be laid on the veteran’s monuments across the street from City Hall. DeCaro said this will be followed by a rifle salute and are currently working on having taps as well.

On Memorial Day — May 29 — DeCaro said there is typically a mass at St. Michael’s Cemetery on State Street, as this is where the war monument is. DeCaro, Sarno and the Springfield Veterans Services Department will be laying a wreath.

DeCaro described this as a “Sunday type mass,” that usually has a small crowd.

The Springfield Central Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps will provide the color guards on May 26

and 29.

All events are open to the public.

Reminder Publishing Staff Writer Lauren LeBel contributed to this report.