Sudbury’s 2016 Memorial Day Parade, Ceremonies, and Program

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 An American Hometown Tradition:  2016 Memorial Day Parade

30 May 2016

The Sudbury Memorial Day Parade, Heritage Park Ceremonies, the Grinnell/Veterans Park Program, and the Hosmer House Program are held on the last Monday in May. This year the date is 30 May 2016. Come, be in the parade, and march with us as we visit all the War Memorials in Sudbury. Watch the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute, Company F, 12th Georgia Infantry, and the American Legion fire musket and rifle salutes.

The Parade and ceremonies honor veterans of all wars that involved Sudbury residents starting with King Philip’s War of 1676 through to today’s conflicts. George Halterman, a Navy veteran and distinguished survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack, will serve as 2016 Parade Marshal accompanied by his family.

At age 18 in 1939, Halterman, now a Sudbury resident, enlisted in the Navy. On December 7, 1941, his ship, Oklahoma, was anchored in Pearl Harbor. When the ship capsized during the attack, 429 of Halterman’s shipmates perished, but he had shore duty and lives with the memory of that day.  See photos of Mr. Halterman and read his account at http://www.whshistoryproject.org/ww2/Interviews/phpInterviews/ww2home.html or hear his recollections at http://www.natickvets.org/interview.php?vetid=1 .

Parade Schedule: The main part of the Parade will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Rugged Bear Plaza, 410 Boston Post Road, where local political leaders, Girl Scouts; Boy Scouts, and a delegation from the Native American Cultural Center will join members of the Sudbury Military Family Network and veteran’s organizations; the American Legion; Veterans of Foreign Wars; and the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute; the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companies; and Company F, 12th Georgia Infantry. Musket and rifle salutes will be fired at each stop by the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute; Company F, 12th Georgia Infantry; and the American Legion.

The Parade marches east along Route 20, then north on Concord Road, with stops at the Civil War Monument at the Goodnow Library, the Wadsworth Monument (King Philip’s War), and the World War II, Korean, and Vietnam Memorials at Wadsworth Cemetery.

Cub Scouts and Brownies then join the parade at Our Lady of Fatima Church as the Parade continues north on Concord Road.  The Parade reaches the World War I Monument at Grinnell Park in the town center at 11:00 a.m. for concluding remarks and final tributes.

Veterans Invited: All veterans are invited to join in the line of march at Rugged Bear Plaza. Uniforms are not required. Civilian clothes which respect the dignity of the occasion (dark slacks, white dress shirt, and hat that identifies your branch of service or veterans’ organization are appropriate). Transportation will be provided for those who wish to participate but feel they are not capable of marching along.

Heritage Park Activities: The Memorial Day Activities begin at Heritage Park at noon.  The Hosmer House, Sudbury Center, Old Sudbury Rd., will be open on May 30th from noon to 3:00 p.m.  The parlor will have a display recognizing town employees, school employees, and those who worked on various committees who passed away in 2015.The Hosmer House store will be open, selling cup plates, dolls, ornaments, books, and the popular Sudbury throws that feature historical buildings of Sudbury. Refreshments will be served and entrance is free of charge.  The Sudbury Historical Commission welcomes all to visit the Hosmer House.

Grinnell/Veterans Park Program begins immediately after the conclusion of the parade.  The names of Sudbury veterans who have passed since last Memorial Day are read aloud. Musical selections are performed by the Sudbury Ancient Fyfe and Drum Companies, followed by recognition of the Parade Marshal, Gerald Halterman, Gold Star Family, and local political leaders. Representative Carmine Gentile will speak. There will also be trumpet selections and bugle calls by Robert Coe. The United Native American Council will carry out the ritual for remembering their warriors at the Town Center. The Council has performed this ceremony for over 30 years at Wadsworth Monument; their second performance as part of the Town Center program will allow all to witness this unique event.

Event Details

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