Civic Life

MEMORIAL DAY

11:30 a.m. Monday, May 30
CLASKY COMMONS

New Bedford Memorial Day Parade

The parade starts at the intersection of Parker Street and Hathaway Boulevard at 11:30 a.m. It travels east on Parker Street to County, then north on County to Pope Street before going east on Pope Street and into Clasky Commons, where a Memorial Day ceremony will be held. The service will include a reading of the Gettysburg Address and a roll call of New Bedford’s fallen veterans.

Immediately following the parade, a Memorial Day Exercise will be conducted at the Korean War Monument.

In case of rain, a Memorial Day service will be held at Fort Taber Community Center at noon.

10 a.m. Monday, May 30
PIER 3/SEAMAN’S BETHEL

Annual Fishermen’s Memorial Day Service

The Annual Fishermen’s Memorial Service will be held on Monday, May 30 at 10 a.m. at Pier 3 in New Bedford. Procession will leave the Seamen’s Bethel at 9:30 a.m. and will head down to Pier 3 for the 10 a.m. start.

If it rains the event will be held inside the Seamen’s Bethel at 10 am.

10 a.m. Monday, May 30
MAIN STREET

Fairhaven Memorial Day Parade

The annual Acushnet Memorial Day Parade steps off from the intersection of Main and Center streets at 10 a.m. and proceeds north on Main Street to Riverside Cemetery.

At the cemetery there is a ceremony at the Civil War monument with participation from military and veterans groups and others. The event is coordinated by the Fairhaven Veterans Services office. For information email bfish@fairhaven-ma.gov or call 508-979-4023, ext. 114.

9 a.m. Monday, May 30
MUSIC HALL

Marion Memorial Day Ceremony

The town of Marion will hold a Memorial Day Ceremony at 9 a.m. at the Music Hall featuring local officials, guest speakers, the Sippican Elementary School band and the Portuguese American band. After a short ceremony, a procession will travel from the Music Hall, north on Front Street to the Old Landing Veterans Park to reconvene for another ceremony. Upon arrival at the Veterans’ Memorial the town will pay tribute to our military’s “honored dead” who “gave the last full measure of devotion.”

The procession and remembrances will feature the Sippican School Marching Band led by director Hannah Moore as well as The Portuguese American Band. The ceremony will conclude with members of the Select Board laying a wreath at the Veterans’ Memorial.  The master of ceremonies for the event will be Maj. Andrew Bonney of the US Air Force.

The featured speaker is Jack McLean, author of “Loon: A Marine Story,” a national best-selling memoir about his service in the United States Marine Corps from 1966 to 1968. 

9:30 a.m. Monday, May 30
BEECH GROVE CEMETERY

Westport Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony

The town of Westport will honor and remember America’s heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. The parade starts with a brief ceremony at the WWI monument at Town Hall, then proceeds south down Main Road to Beech Grove Cemetery with a ceremony at the flagpole. Refreshments will be served in the Town Hall Annex Gym afterwards.

Those participating in the parade should muster in the Town Hall parking lot no later than 9 a.m.

For more information contact Veterans’ Service Officer Carol Freitas at 508-636-1028 or freitasc@westport-ma.gov.

8:30 a.m. Monday, May 30
GRANDMA HARTLEY’S RESERVOIR

Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race

The Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race on the Mattapoisett River will start at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, May 30, at Grandma Hartley’s Reservoir, finishing at the Mattapoisett Herring Weir.

The Rochester Fire Department is sponsoring the race. Contestants must be at least 7. There will be two people per boat. The boat must be a homemade river racer design, created with any type of material. There are no limitations or restrictions on types of paddles.

The awards program will be on Memorial Day evening at the Rochester Senior Center at 67 Dexter’s Lane. The traditional ham and bean supper will take place at the senior center from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 28, with a choice of sit-down dining or take-out meals.

1:30 p.m. Monday, May 30
CENTER SCHOOL

Mattapoisett Memorial Day Ceremony

The Mattapoisett Memorial Day Ceremony will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 30 at the Center School.

The Old Rochester High School band will perform, George Randall will read the Gettysburg Address, Sasha Volkema will offer a Governor’s Proclamation, State Rep. William Straus will give Memorial Day remarks and professor James Holmes will be the guest speaker. The New Bedford JROTC will post and retire the colors.

After the ceremony, Cmdr. Peron will assemble participants on Barstow Street and the procession will march south to the Library to place flowers on the Florence Eastman, WWI and Civil War monuments. The procession will then proceed to the town wharf to honor those lost at sea.