How will your town observe Memorial Day?
Plan your weekend with our list of Memorial Day events in the Valley
Gov. Gina Raimondo and other state dignitaries marked the observance of Memorial Day by participating in an annual wreath-laying ceremony honoring war veterans from Rhode Island.
The event on Wednesday was held at the Garden of Heroes on the southwest lawn at the State House.
The garden is dedicated to Rhode Island service members who died supporting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Memorial Day events throughout the Blackstone Valley, including Woonsocket, Pawtucket, Central Falls, North Smithfield, Cumberland and Lincoln, begin this weekend before the holiday and continue through Monday. Bellingham’s Memorial Day ceremony was held last weekend.
Woonsocket
Memorial Day observances in Woonsocket will be held on Monday, May 30 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Veteran’s Council Armed Forces Park on Davison Avenue.
“Memorial Day is about honoring those who lost their lives and the sacrifices they’ve made for their country,” said Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt. “Memorial Day is especially important as we are reminded almost daily of the great sacrifices that our veterans have made to afford all Americans their freedoms.”
Participants will include local and state dignitaries, Woonsocket High School Band, Woonsocket High School
AFJROTC and the Woonsocket Police and Fire Department Honor Guards.
In the event of rain, the ceremony will be held at City Hall—Harris at 10:30 a.m. A decision will be made by no later than 8 a.m.
If your organization would like to participate in the event, contact Director of Human Services Linda Plays at (401) 767-9282.
A Memorial Day cookout for the public and one for veterans will be held Sunday and Monday from 1 to 5 p.m. under the tent at the Woonsocket Elk’s Lodge 850, 380 Social St. The Eleks Veterans Committee will be hosting this event. Another on Monday for veterns done by vetranas comitt 1 to 5 0p..
The cost for the public cookout is $3.50 for a hot dog, potato salad, chips, watermelon and dessert; $4 for a hamburger, potato salad, chips, watermelon and dessert; $1.50 for individual hot dogs and $2.50 for hamburgers. The cost for beverages is $1 and $2 for beer.
For the cookout on Monday, veterans will eat for free.
Also, the city’s Veterans Memorial Museum, located at 78 Earle St., will be open on Memorial Day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a military vehicle display on June 12 to support local veteran programs.
North Smithfield
The town of North Smithfield and the VFW Leclair-Kozlik Post in Forestdale will co-sponsor that town’s annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30. Civic groups and organizations, scouts, school bands, youth groups and community agencies, as well as veterans from all walks of life, are encouraged to participate.
The parade will step off at 10:30 a.m. from the Slatersville Plaza and proceed
down North Main Street to Town Hall for a memorial service at 11 a.m., then continue to the VFW Leclair-Kozlik Post.
Cumberland
The Town of Cumberland will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony on Monday, May 30 at 11 a.m. at the Monastery on Diamond Hill Road.
Also, Clube Juventude Lusitana will hold a Memorial Day parade, which steps off at 8:30 a.m. from the cemetery on Curren Road. The parade will be followed by an outdoor Memorial Day Catholic Mass at 11:30 a.m.
Lincoln
The Town of Lincoln’s sixdivision Memorial Day Parade steps off Monday at 11 a.m. from Smithfield and Reservoir Avenues at the Lincoln/Pawtucket line, and travels north on Smithfield Avenue to Walker Street and on to the Saylesville fire station where the parade will conclude with refreshments and entertainment.
The parade will be preceded by a wreath laying ceremony at the veterans memorial at Dow Square at 10 a.m.
The 39th annual Memorial Day Breakfast will be held at Chapel Street Congregational Church, 185 Chapel St., on Monday, May 30.
The breakfast will be from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. before the Lincoln Memorial Day Parade at 11 a.m.
Menu includes orange juice, coffee, oven omelets, pancakes, ham, sausage and assorted muffins.
Cost is $7.50 for adults and $4 for children younger than 12. All are welcome.
Blackstone
Blackstone’s annual Memorial Day parade and events will be held Sunday. The parade steps off at 1 p.m. from John F. Kennedy/ Augustine F. Maloney school complex and will be preceded by a ceremony honoring WWI veterans at the common. The groups led by a military honor guard will proceed to the veterans monument located at the corner of Mendon Street and Main Street. After a brief ceremony, the procession will make its way down Main Street toward the bridge on St. Paul Street where a wreath will be tossed into the Blackstone River commemorating those lost at seas in all wars. The parade will end at the municipal center where brief readings and ceremonies will take place.
The parade will include several marching bands, including BlackstoneMillville High School and Frederick W. Hartnett Middle School marching bands. Also participating will be police and fire department units, the Knights of Columbus and other organizations.
After the parade, Roosevelt Park in back of Town Hall will host day-long activities, including live entertainment, a food court, kids activities and arts and crafts.
A fireworks display will be held at 9:30 p.m. at Roosevelt Park.
Millville
Millville’s Memorial Day parade will be held Sunday 1 p.m. The parade steps off at the top of Central Street, proceeds over the bridges and ends at the fire station.
AMemorial Day ceremony will be held at Veterans Park located on Route 122 next to the fire station.
Uxbridge
Veterans in town are also being asked to take part in this year’s Uxbridge Memorial Day Parade, which will be held Monday. Veterans are asked to meet at the Whitin School at 8:30 a.m. before the parade steps off at 9 a.m.
Earlier in the morning on Monday, members of the VFW Post 1385, and American Legion, Charles A. Rice Post #33 will depart the VFW at 6 a.m. and proceed to St. Mary’s Cemetery and Prospect Hill Cemetery where a short ceremony will be held to honor all deceased veterans. The ceremony will consist of a short prayer, a gun volley and Taps.
In the event of rain, scheduled exercises will be held in the McCloskey Middle School auditorium at 10 a.m.
The town’s Memorial Day observances actually kicked off with the annual B-24 Memorial Service on May 15. Tucked away on a two-acre wooded across from 84 Chamberland Road, is a granite monument honoring five servicemen who died in the service of their country when their B-24 Liberator (42-7347) crashed on that spot during World War II. The incident occurred on May 18, 1944, as a formation of three B-24 bombers droned through the sky over the Blackstone Valley.
Burrillville
Berard-Desjarlais American Legion Post 88 will hold a Memorial Day service on Monday at 9 a.m. at the monument in Nasonville and 11 a.m. at the war memorial at Freedom Park. The ceremony will feature the high school band and choir and the traditional reading of names of deceased veterans of all wars and releasing of white doves.
Glocester
The Town of Glocester will hold its Memorial Day Parade on Monday, rain or shine. The Parade steps-off from the Chepachet Free Will Baptist Church, 1213 Putnam Pike, at 10:30 a.m. and heads east down Route 44, stopping at several points along the way, including the Dorr Monument, before ending at Acotes Hill Cemetery.
At each stop, and again at the cemetery, marchers will conduct a wreath laying ceremony, complete with music and hymns from the Ponaganset High School band.
Franklin
The Memorial Day Parade will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Monday in downtown Franklin.
The 2016 parade route will begin at Depot Street and Dean Bank and proceed up Main Street to Church Street., left onto School Street to West Central Street to Beaver Street and ending at the Town Common/ Church Square. The parade will once again stop at the Dean Memorial and the Union Street and St. Mary’s Cemeteries.
A ceremony will be held at noon at the Town Common.
Pawtucket
Pawtucket’s 2016 Annual Memorial Day Ceremony will take place at the Veteran’s Amphitheater, 137 Roosevelt Ave. on Monday morning. A parade consisting of all the students and organizations that helped flag the graves of veterans will precede the ceremony. The parade will step off from the Pawtucket School Department administrative building located at 286 Main St. promptly at 10 a.m. and will proceed through downtown as they make their way to the Veteran’s Amphitheater located at City Hall.
There will be a brief speaking program followed by the ceremonial laying of the wreath, honoring the men and women who died serving in the United States Armed Forces. Winners from a school-sponsored essay contest about the meaning of Memorial Day will also be recognized, along with musical presentations from Pawtucket School Music programs.
Central Falls
In Central Falls, VFW Post 1271 will hold its annual Memorial Day ceremony on Monday. Commander Julien Leroux has announced that the Eugene T. Lefebvre VFW Post 1271 Memorial Day ceremony will take place at Quinn’s Square located at Dexter and Hunt streets next to the old Dexter Credit Union bank. The ceremony will start at 10 a.m. Bill Donnelly, post adjutant and past state commander, will host the ceremony. The public is invited.
East Providence
American Legion Riverside Post 10 located on 830 Willett Ave will be hosting its annual Memorial Day parade on Monday at 10 a.m. The parade steps off at the James R.D. Oldham School, 640 Bullocks Point Avenue, heads north on Bullocks Point Avenue to Riverside Square, turns right onto Turner Avenue, then right on Willett Ave and ends at the American Legion.
Seekonk
The parade steps off Saturday at 10 a.m. from Seekonk High School, 261 Arcade Ave., travels north on Arcade Avenue, north on Newman Avenue and ends at the Dr. Kevin Hurley Middle School. There will be a dedication of the Seekonk Veterans Memorial next to the Seekonk Library, 410 Newman Ave., at noon.