Memorial Day Commemorations in Concord

Next Monday, May 27, is Memorial Day, a time to honor the brave men and women who have served our country. In Concord, it’s done with two parades and ceremonies to follow.

The morning ceremony musters at 8:30 a.m. at Rideout Playground on Laws Brook Road in West Concord and proceeds to Kenneth Dunn Square for a flag raising and ceremony at 9 a.m.

A little later on, at 11:30 a.m., the parade reassembles at Garrison Road and Ash Street before proceeding to the St. Bernard’s and Sleepy Hollow cemeteries for short ceremonies at each. Finally, the parade marches to Monument Square for a reading of the Roll of Honor at approximately 1:15 p.m., according to the Public Ceremonies and Celebrations Committee’s events calendar.

From the PCCC’s description of the day’s events:

For some, beginning in 1775 and continuing today, responding to the challenge of citizenship has also meant a period of service in the Armed Forces. More than 1,400 men and women from Concord went to fight in WWII and just about 300 each to Korea and to Vietnam. Today, almost 1,000 Veterans live in Concord. Memorial Day is Concord’s opportunity to honor the men and women who, as friends, relatives, neighbors, and comrades served our community and our nation.