Around Town

Burials at Local Cemeteries Spiked During COVID-19 Surge in Massachusetts

By |

Gravestones at Mount Auburn Cemetery. Two of the largest cemeteries in Watertown saw a huge increase in the number of burials during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak in Massachusetts. At the Town-operated Ridgelawn Cemetery, the number of burials almost doubled compared to a year ago, according to Jesse Myott, Department of Public Works Director of Administration & Finance. “The last few months we have seen a significant increase in — not to be cold, but — cemetery operations,” Myott told the Town Council last week. “It is nothing like anything that any of our senior staff has ever seen, and we have a number of 10 and 20 year veterans.

Around Town

Flags Retired During Ceremony at Ridgelawn Cemetery, First Veterans Event During COVID-19

By |

Veterans Agent Patrick George watches as a member of the Department of Public Works lights the retired American Flags during the Flag Day Ceremony at Ridgelawn Cemetery. Watertown’s veterans groups got together at Ridgelawn Cemetery for the first ceremony since the start of the COVID-19 shutdown Sunday to honor the American Flag and retire some during the annual Flag Day Ceremony. With the cancellation of the Memorial Day Parade, the town’s biggest event involving veterans, the Flag Day Ceremony took on a bit more significance this year. Veterans Services Officer Patrick George read a statement that he normally does during the Memorial Day activities in late-May. “Typically what we do on Memorial Day is rededicate memorials around Watertown,” George said.

Around Town

Watertown Holding Flag Day Ceremony at Ridgelawn Cemetery

By |

Members of Watertown’s veterans groups salute at the Flag Retirement Ceremony on Friday. The following information was provided by the Watertown Veterans Services Office:

Watertown will hold a Flag Retirement Service and Ceremony at Ridgelawn Cemetery on Sunday, June 14th, 2020 beginning at 10:00 AM. We will also rededicate the flagpole. This event is open to the Public; however, in accordance with health & safety guidelines, attendees must wear a face covering and practice appropriate social distancing. Please reach out to the Veterans’ Services office if you have a flag you’d like to properly retire.

Around Town

Watertown Hosting Flag Retirement Ceremony on Flag Day

By |

Watertown Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts fold a flag to be retired during the Flag Day Retirement of Colors Ceremony. Watertown will hold a Flag Retirement Service and Ceremony on Flag Day, announced Watertown Veterans Services Officer Patrick George. The ceremony will take place at Ridgelawn Cemetery on Friday June 14, 2019 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

“This event is open to the Public; and it would be an honor to have the residents of Watertown attend this very special event,” George said in the event announcement. If you have any questions, please call the Veterans Office at 617-972-6416.

Police/Fire

Police Respond to Suicide at Watertown Cemetery

By |

Watertown Police responded to a death at a Westside cemetery on Thursday morning, and have ruled the incident a suicide. A resident walking a dog spotted the body in the Ridgelawn Cemetery, near the fence separating the cemetery from the Cunniff School. Police were alerted at about 6 a.m., said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. The adult male had been there a few hours, police estimate, when he was found. It took several hours for Watertown Police to identify the man, O’Connor said.

Around Town

Flags Laid to Rest Respectfully During First Flag Retirement Ceremony

By |

The flag that flew in front of Watertown Town Hall got a retirement with the full honors Wednesday evening. 

For the first time in memory, the Town of Watertown held a flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day. Local veterans groups, the Watertown Police Honor Guard, and sailors from the U.S.S. Constitution all took part in the ceremony at Ridgelawn Cemetery. The ceremony was lead by Watertown Veterans Agent Mark Comeiro. “When a flag has serve its useful life, it should be retired,” Comeiro said. The flag flew on the pole in front of Town Hall until Memorial Day, Comeiro said.

Government

Town Cemetery Running Low on Space for New Burials

By |

Space is running low at Watertown’s Ridgelawn Cemetery, but there are some options for opening more space. Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee said the cemetery has 3-5 years left before filling the currently available spaces. More space can be freed up, but it will take some work, he told the Town Council recently. “We could take some roadways out and add cemetery space,” Mee said. There is also a section near the Waltham line which has not been opened for burials, he said, but they might have some water projects in the near future, Mee said.