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Date: 5/18/2021
BLANDFORD – The Blandford Memorial Day parade will start promptly at 11:30 a.m., May 31 at the Blandford Town Hall, and proceed up Main Street to Veterans Park. All participants should be at the town offices no later than 11 a.m.
At Veteran’s Park, Kyle Mangini will perform patriotic music. Chester Blandford elementary school students will read essays on what Memorial Day means to them, and Jon Berman will perform the national anthem.
The Blandford Historical Society will be open from 10:30 a.m. to noon and will have a special display on Blandford’s Veterans. The annual town picnic will follow immediately in Watson Park.
“All veterans are welcomed to march. Come and pay your respects to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” said organizer Doug Emo.
Chester
Memorial Day observances will begin with a ceremony at 9 a.m. on May 31 on the steps of the Town Hall. Barbara Huntoon, a member of the organizing committee, said the ceremony will include readings and recorded music.
Following the ceremony, a parade will march down to the cemetery. Huntoon said veterans who are interested in participating in the color guard or honor guard may contact her at 207-1104.
The Fire Department and scouts will also be participating in the parade. All are welcome to join them in the solemn observances.
Huntington
The Town of Huntington will host a Memorial Day Parade on May 31. The parade will assemble at Pettis Field at 8 a.m. and step off at 8:20 a.m. to march to the Veteran’s Memorial.
The ceremony will include a flag raising and lowering accompanied by a rifle salute by the Huntington Fire Department, and a veteran placing a wreath on the monument.
Veterans and other community organizations who are interested in marching are asked to call Lori Belhumeur at 667-3169 by May 26. Marchers and spectators are required to follow all current state COVID-19 guidelines.
“Any organization or group that wants to participate, we’d be happy to have them. If anybody wants to bring a classic or antique car to drive in the parade, the more the merrier,” Belhumeur said.
Westfield
A virtual ceremony to honor Memorial Day will take place May 31 at 11 a.m., hosted by the Veteran’s Council.
The American Legion Post 124, Westfield Marine Corps League Detachment 141, Vietnam Veterans Chapter 219 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 872 will participate along with city and state officials.
The ceremony can be viewed on Westfield cable channel 15 and the City of Westfield YouTube channel.
The Officer of the Day will be Keith Burkhout and Master of Ceremonies will be Gary Fontaine, with guest speaker Frederick Benda. There will be a placing of wreaths and a moment of silence in honor of veterans who died from COVID-19.
“Many of our fallen veterans were not given proper military honors due to COVID restrictions. The city of Westfield Veterans Council will be honoring our veterans who passed away in the last year at the virtual Memorial Day ceremony,” said Westfield Veterans Services Director Julie Barnes.