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Freedom Garden to Break Ground at Watertown’s 2nd Annual Poppy Picnic

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The City of Watertown invites the public to come to the Commander’s Mansion on May 27 for the Second Annual Poppy Picnic! Grab your picnic blanket and join us on May 27th, 2022, to kick off the Memorial Day Weekend! There will be music, food trucks, kids’ games, crafts, story time, adaptive game demos, military vehicles, a donation station, and the groundbreaking for The Freedom Garden. At the picnic, Operation American Soldier will be accepting donations of non-perishable goods to send to our troops. With each donation, you will be entered for a chance to receive an engraved memorial brick to dedicate to a friend or family member for no additional charge.

Around Town

Route Change for Watertown’s Memorial Day Parade, Volunteers Wanted

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown Girl Scouts joined in the parade on Monday. The Watertown Memorial Day Parade is back in 2022! The route has been changed, but it will take place on Monday, May 30 starting at noon. Parade Route

Due to ongoing construction, Watertown Veterans’ Services had to make the decision to change the route in the interest of safety.The parade will begin right in front of City Hall and conclude at Victory Field. We will take a right on Waverley Avenue, and another right on Orchard Street to complete the route.

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Watertown Veterans Gather In-Person to Commemorate Memorial Day

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown veterans salute the Flag during the playing of the National Anthem at the Memorial Day Observance. Memorial Day 2021 in Watertown had more of a normal feeling than last year, with veterans able to gather in person and pay tribute to those who gave their lives serving their country. While the parade was cancelled for the second straight year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Town’s Memorial Day Observance took place under a tent next to the Commander’s Mansion. “I think the community and everyone else has learned a crash course in what veterans call improvise, adapt and overcome,” said Watertown Veterans Services Officer Patrick George. Last year, members of the Shutt Detachment of the Marine Corps League, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and AmVets organized the place flags on graves of veterans and place wreaths at memorials around Watertown despite the COVID-19 restrictions.

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Watertown Marine Whose Name is on a Westside Park Died in Vietnam 53 Years Ago

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PFC Richard Moxley, of Watertown, who was killed in Vietnam in 1968. The field next to Watertown Middle School was dedicated to him. Richard Moxley, for whom the field and park next to Watertown Middle School is named, was a quick-witted young man who enjoyed interacting with interesting characters, and decided to forego college to serve his country in the Marines in 1967. He died in Vietnam nearly 53 years ago. Moxley was born on Sept.

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Watertown Memorial Day Ceremony Moving to Commander’s Mansion

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Police and Fire honor guards stand at attention during the Memorial Day Ceremony. For 2021, Watertown will commemorate Memorial Day at the Commander’s Mansion, starting at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 31. The annual parade was cancelled due to concerns with COVID-19, but the ceremony held afterward will take place, said Watertown Veterans Services Officer Patrick George. The weather prompted a change of venues for the ceremony. “It was going to be at Victory Field, because the bleachers would allow people to space out,” George said.

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Rolling Memorial Day Celebration Coming Through Watertown on May 31

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The following information was provided by Nonantum Children’s Christmas Party Association:

After our successful Rolling Memorial in 2020, the Nonantum Children’s Christmas PartyAssociation, Inc. plans to hold the same event this Memorial Day, Monday, May 31st, beginningat 1 p.m.

The Rolling Memorial is the safest alternative to a traditional parade that still allows the community to honor and remember the sacrifices made by so many who served our country. Join us along the route and watch approximately twenty patriotic floats roll by! The Memorial will travel through parts of Newton, Waltham and Watertown. Visit our website nonantumccpa.org for additional information including the entire route with approximate times. If you have any questions, please email us at info@nonantumccpa.org.

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Volunteers Wanted to Place Flags on Veterans’ Graves for Memorial Day

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In honor of Memorial Day, flags will be placed on the graves of Watertown veterans. The Watertown Veterans Services Office seeks volunteers to help place the flags. Watertown will hold its annual Flag Marker disbursement at Veterans Gravesites on Wednesday, May 26, 2021 beginning at 5 p.m., said Watertown Veterans Agent Patrick George. “Volunteers are encouraged to participate in this honorable event and may join us at Ridgelawn Cemetery or Saint Patrick’s Cemetery,” George said. Due to the current COVID restrictions, participants will be required to wear masks and maintain social distance.

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Watertown Hosting Poppy Picnic Memorial Day Weekend with Food, Crafts & Military Vehicles

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The following information was provided by the Town of Watertown:

This year the Watertown Veteran’s Office and the Commander’s Mansion are teaming up to host the first annual Poppy Picnic on Friday, May 28th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. We encourage guests to picnic on the grounds – Donohue’s Bar & Grill and Branch Line are offering special deals and to-go menu items. Chill Wagon will be onsite selling ice cream treats too! 

Green Urb Gardens will be unveiling the design for our future veteran’s memorial garden where you will have the opportunity to vote on its name and purchase a memory brick for a loved one that served in the military. The festivities also include music, a kid’s Poppy craft station and you’ll have the chance to check out a few military vehicles on display! This is a free Watertown community event; reservations are required as space is limited due to Covid restrictions. Here is the online link to the event – Poppy Picnic