Around Town

Watertown’s Roll of Honor: The Town’s Long History of Sacrifice for Country

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Memorial Day ceremonies and the parade will be held in Watertown on Monday, May 26. Watertown’s long military tradition dates well before the founding of the United States. The battles where Town’s the sons (and in one case daughter) served and gave their lives include some of the most hallowed in American history: Lexington, Bull Run, Pearl Harbor, Okinawa. The names can still be seen around town being memorialized in the names of street signs, parks and squares — Phillip Darch Road, O’Connell Park and Moxley Field are just some. Memorial Day honors the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.

Around Town

No Parade, But Watertown Cable Broadcasting Memorial Day Ceremony Featuring Veteran Interviews

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The COVID-19 restrictions has cancelled the 2020 Watertown Memorial Day Parade, but the Town’s Veterans Agent and Watertown Cable are teaming up to broadcast a live ceremony on Monday. After the parade each year, a ceremony is held next to Town Hall. Veterans Agent Patrick George said he wanted to hold something like that this year, and teamed up with Watertown Cable to put on the live broadcast at noon on Monday, May 25. The featured speaker will be Watertown-native Lt. Col. Stephanie Cooper.

Around Town

Big Crowds Come Out for 2019 Watertown Memorial Day Parade

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Members of the Marine Corps League Charles Shutt Detachment march in the 2019 Watertown Memorial Day Parade. The streets of Watertown were lined with people waving flags, Monday, to pay tribute America’s fallen service men and women, and watch the 2019 Memorial Day Parade. The annual parade featured local veterans groups, scouts, Watertown Police and Firefighters, bands, military vehicles and much more. Close to 30 groups took part in the parade, with participants coming forward as late as Friday. Participants said the 2019 edition of the parade drew one of the largest crowds in years.

Transportation

MassDOT Releases Advice for Memorial Day Travelers

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The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) advises Memorial Day holiday travelers to plan ahead, utilize MassDOT’s “real time” travel tools to plan trips, and use public transportation if possible to reach destinations. On Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, Registry of Motor Vehicle customer service locations and all other Commonwealth of Massachusetts offices are closed. In addition, on Monday, the I-93 HOV lane will not be deployed, all MBTA subway, trolleys, commuter rail and buses will operate on Sunday schedules, and the MassDOT Highway Assistance Program will have extra patrols on state roads. “We traditionally see more vehicles on the roadways throughout Memorial Day weekend, so members of the public should plan their trips in advance and make smart decisions before setting out for their destinations,” said MassDOT Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver.  “Anyone who will be driving should consider traveling during off-peak hours, build extra time into their trips, and check MassDOT’s Go Time app or other wayfinding navigational tools to help with decisions on which roads to take and when to travel.”

Per long-standing policy, MassDOT will be shutting down scheduled roadway construction activities on Friday, May 24, at 5 a.m. Scheduled road work will then resume at the start of business on Tuesday, May 28. 

The High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane on I-93 between Boston and Quincy will have normal morning hours this week and will extend its afternoon hours on Thursday, May 23, to be open on Thursday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., and on Friday, May 24, between the hours of 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. The HOV lane will not be deployed on Monday, May 27. Normal HOV lane operations will resume on Tuesday, May 28. The Sumner Tunnel Swing Lane will be open on Thursday, May 23, at 1 p.m. The Swing Lane will also be open throughout the holiday period beginning at 12 p.m., Friday, May 24, until 5 a.m., Tuesday, May 28.

Around Town

Watertown Will Mark Memorial Day With Parade, Placing Flags and Wreaths

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Memorial Day ceremonies and the parade will be held in Watertown on Monday, May 27. Watertown will honor its veterans with several events during Memorial Day week. Veterans Services Officer Patrick George announced following schedule. WEDNESDAY 22 May 2019 at 5:00 pm:

Meet at Ridgelawn Cemetery

Flags will be placed at Veterans’ graves at all Watertown cemeteries by Veteran organizations and Volunteers. Interested volunteers should contact the VSO at pgeorge@watertown-ma.gov or 617-972-6416

FRIDAY 24 MAY 2019: Veterans School Visitation:

9:00 a.m. – Watertown High School9:45 a.m. – Cunniff Elementary School10:00 a.m. – Lowell Elementary School10:00 a.m. – Watertown Middle School11:00 a.m. – Hosmer Elementary School

SUNDAY 26 MAY 2019: Morning Services and Dedications:

7:30 a.m. – WWI Memorial Stone – (front of Shutt Detachment)7:40 a.m. – Cottage Street Cemetery7:50 a.m. – Coolidge Square POW/MIA Monument8:00 a.m. – Arlington Street Cemetery8:10 a.m. – Common Street Cemetery8:20 a.m. – Charles River Float8:30 a.m. – World War II Memorial Stone (front of Town Hall)8:35 a.m. – Saltonstall Park8:45 a.m. – Moxley Field (AMVETS Post 14)8:55 a.m. – St.

Around Town

Watertown High School Strives to Bring Attention to Faded Banner Honoring WWI Veterans

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Hidden in plain sight at Watertown High School is a banner dating back 100 years, made to honor the town residents who went to serve in World War I, as well as, those who died in the “War to End All Wars.” The banner is located in a glass case, not far from the top of the central staircase on the second floor of the high school. It caught the interest of Kraig Gustafson, the AP U.S. History teacher and the district’s grade 6-12 Social Studies Coordinator. He also wanted to do something to honor others who served in the military at that time and since then. Once bordered with bright red with a white center and hundreds of stars some of which form the letters W-H-S, the banner now appears in different shades of gray.

Around Town

Speaker Remembers Watertown’s Lost Servicemen, Others During Memorial Day Ceremony

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The commander of the Natick Solder Systems Center reminded people of the importance of remembering those killed while serving and protecting their country during Watertown’s Memorial Day Observance on Monday. 

The town held its annual parade, from East Watertown to Town Hall, on Monday, followed by a ceremony in Saltonstall Park. Opening the ceremony, Watertown Veterans Agent Mark Comeiro said that Memorial Day is a time not only to remember those lost in battle, but also those who died after their time in the military. “We mourn our most recent losses, along with their families, and we our ancestors who are now family heroes,” Comeiro said. “We recount their contributions even though we may have never known them. We remember them as those that have done so much to make this country great.”

Around Town

See All the Activities in Watertown During the Week Leading Up to Memorial Day

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The annual Parade will top off Watertown’s Memorial Day celebration, but there are many other activities around town this week. Watertown Veterans’ Services Agent Mark Comeiro provided the following information:

2018 Memorial Day Week Activities

Placing of Flags:

WEDNESDAY: 23rd May, 2018 at 5 p.m.: Meet at Ridgelawn Cemetery

*RAIN DATE THURSDAY MAY 24th, 2018*

Flags will be placed at veterans’ graves at all Watertown cemeteries by Veteran organizations and Volunteers

FRIDAY 25 MAY 2018:

Veterans School Visitation:

9:00 a.m. – Watertown High School
9:45 a.m. – Cuniff Elementary School
10:00 a.m. – Lowell Elementary School
10:00 a.m. – Watertown Middle School
11:00 a.m. – Hosmer Elementary School

SUNDAY 27 MAY 2018:

Morning Services and Dedications:

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

MONDAY 28 MAY 2018:

Parade:

10:30 a.m – 11:30 a.m. – Parade Check-in at Tufts Health Plan Parking lot
12:00 p.m. – Parade Begins