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Marblehead will observe Memorial Day with four days of ceremonies, grave flagging and a parade, beginning Friday, May 22, and ending with its traditional procession and cemetery services Monday, May 25.
The observances are organized by Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2005, the town's veterans service officer and several civic groups, and they honor the Marblehead residents who died in U.S. military service. Organizers said every event is open to the public, and community members are welcome to take part.
The weekend begins at 9 a.m. Friday with a veterans breakfast at the Council on Aging, sponsored by the Masons. Volunteers will then place flags at the graves of veterans at Star of the Sea Cemetery. The flagging continues at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 23, at Waterside Cemetery, where participants are asked to gather at the bell tower.
On Sunday, May 24, the VFW post will conduct a ceremony at 1 p.m. at Star of the Sea Cemetery.
The town's central observance takes place Monday. A Salem Trolley will be parked at the Marblehead VFW post between 7 and 7:30 a.m. to carry passengers to Clark's Landing for an 8 a.m. memorial service. The trolley will then join the parade before returning to the post.
The Clark's Landing service, conducted by the VFW, honors all Marbleheaders who have died at sea, recognizing those who served in the Navy, the Coast Guard and the Merchant Marine. Ronald Knight, commander of VFW Post 2005, will serve as master of ceremonies with the town's veterans service officer, Ro Trionfi-Mazzuchelli. VFW Chaplain Jim Full, a Navy veteran, will deliver the invocation, and Liz Solange will perform the Navy Hymn. State Rep. Jenny Armini will cast an anchor wreath into the sea. Glover's Marblehead Regiment will fire a three-volley salute, and John Collins of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will play taps.
Units will then form up for the main parade in Market Square, at the Old Town House, no later than 8:30 a.m. The parade steps off at 9 a.m. and proceeds up Pleasant Street to Memorial Park.
At Memorial Park, Trionfi-Mazzuchelli will offer greetings, Marblehead Scouts will lead the Pledge of Allegiance and Full will give the invocation. Dan Fox, chair of the Select Board, will read a proclamation. The guest speaker will be Maria Alejandra Parra-Orlandoni. Armini will read the honor roll of the town's war dead, followed by a three-volley salute from Glover's Marblehead Regiment, taps and the national anthem.
After the Memorial Park ceremony, the procession reforms and continues by way of Spring Street, Elm Street, Cressey Street, Green Street and Turner Road to Waterside Cemetery.
The Waterside Cemetery service opens with an invocation by Monsignor Moran of Star of the Sea Church. Memorial wreaths will be placed for each of the nation's major conflicts, from the Civil War through recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, with a town wreath placed at the center by Fox. Jason Topp will give the principal address, introduced by Knight, and John Crowley of the U.S. Air Force will read the World War I poem "In Flanders Fields."
The Waterside service also includes a three-volley salute and taps, with Solange performing the national anthem and "Marblehead Forever." Moran will give the benediction, and Knight and Trionfi-Mazzuchelli will offer closing remarks.
There will be no formal marching after the Waterside service, and the trolley will be available for those who want a ride back. A final group will return to the Old Town House to raise the flag.
The weekend closes with a barbecue hosted by VFW Post 2005 for all who wish to attend.
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, honors members of the U.S. armed forces who died while serving.
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