Memorial Day Parade on Main St. May 28
Published on May 23rd, 2001
STONEHAM, MA - Stonehamites will march down Main Street, as they do every year, to honor those brave men and women who died defending the American way of life.
On Monday, May 28, the annual Stoneham Memorial Day Parade will begin at St. Patrick’s Cemetery on Elm Street at 10 a.m.
Memorial Day Parade Committee Chairman Fred Mosley and Secretary/ Treasurer Joe Desisto are excited about this year’s event and are hoping for good weather to help them celebrate in style.
The tradition of Memorial Day began in the mid-1800s when General John Logan Alexander proclaimed May 30 as "Decoration Day" in 1868. This day was reserved for decorating the graves of Americans who died serving our nation in the American Civil War. Spring flowers and small American flags were placed on each grave to honor the veterans. In 1971, Congress designated the last Monday in May as "Memorial Day" in order to embrace every military person who died serving our country. The Memorial Day tradition has continued in many communities for over a century, and Stoneham will honor approximately 1900 veterans in St. Patrick’s Cemetery and Lindenwood Cemetery combined.
Following a special ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cemetery, the parade will depart down Elm St. and bear left onto Main St. After marching down Main St., the parade will take a right onto Montvale Avenue to Lindenwood Cemetery for speeches around "Veteran’s Circle" and for the decoration of the graves with American flags. After the ceremony, the parade will regroup and go up Montvale Avenue, take a right into Stoneham Center and circle the Buckley Monument. Next, the parade will proceed down Central St. and end at the Town Hall.
Stoneham veterans and Brownie Troops will be participating in this year’s parade. "We try to get kids involved. It is important for them to know about Memorial Day because they will be the ones carrying on the message in the future," Desisto said. In addition, six bands, including the Stoneham High School and Stoneham Middle School Marching Bands, will lend their musical talent to celebrate this proud and patriotic day. Groups in the parade are asked to assemble at 9:15 a.m.
During the parade route, Stoneham will also honor Bill Buckley, a correspondent who was murdered overseas in Israel. Buckley served Stone-ham faithfully prior to the Gulf War. "Special Forces will hold a service themselves at 11 a.m. in the Stoneham Square at the Bill Buckley Monument," Mosley said.
In case of inclement weather, the Parade Committee has already prepared to celebrate indoors. The ceremony will be held inside the Town Hall at 11 a.m. in case of rain. The committee is also planning to have the parade televised this year.
For anyone interested in helping out with the event, please contact Joe Desisto at 781-438-3479 or Fred Mosley at 781-438-0461.
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