Charlie Breitrose Watertown veterans salute the Flag during the playing of the National Anthem at the Memorial Day Observance.
During Memorial Day week, Watertown veterans groups will visit schools, ceremonies will be held for veterans buried in town, the Commander’s Mansion will hose the Poppy Social, and, of course, the Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday.
The Watertown Veterans Services Office sent out the following information:
May 23: Veterans are invited to the Cunniff School at 9 a.m. for a Memorial Day Ceremony.
May 24: We will begin placing cemetery flags & grave markers at Ridgelawn Cemetery and Saint Patrick’s Cemetery starting around 5 p.m.
May 26th: Veterans are invited to join us at the Watertown Public Schools:
8:45 a.m. – Lowell Elementary School
9:30 a.m. – Watertown High School
Please note: This information will update with the remaining schools soon. Some elements may differ this year, with virtual offerings.
May 26th: Veterans and members of the public are invited to attend a Poppy Social event, to see the first round of memorial bricks installed at the Freedom Garden at the Commander’s Mansion. More information on this event can be found here: https://www.commandersmansion.com/events
May 28th: Veterans, and members of the public are invited to join us for the honorary procession. The full lineup is below:
7:30 a.m. – WWI Memorial Stone – (front of Shutt Detachment)
7:40 a.m. – Cottage Street Cemetery
7:50 a.m. – Coolidge Square POW/MIA Monument
8:00 a.m. – Arlington Street Cemetery
8:10 a.m. – Common Street Cemetery
8:20 a.m. – Charles River Float
8:30 a.m. – World War II Memorial Stone (front of Town Hall)
8:35 a.m. – Saltonstall Park
8:45 a.m. – Moxley Field (AMVETS Post 14)
8:55 a.m. – St. Patrick’s Cemetery
9:05 a.m. – Ridgelawn Cemetery
10:00 a.m. – Veteran’s Mass at St. Patrick’s Church
May 29th: Watertown will again have its Memorial Day Parade. Participants are encouraged to begin staging by 10:30 p.m. The parade itself will begin promptly at 12 with a ceremony at Victory Field following the parade.
The 2023 Memorial Day Parade will follow the parade route from last year. Participants will stage in the City Hall and Watertown Free Public Library Lot. The parade will kick off right at 12:00 and conclude at Victory Field. Participants and members of the public are invited to attend a brief ceremony at Victory Field following the conclusion of the parade.