Around Town

Flags Laid to Rest Respectfully During First Flag Retirement Ceremony

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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.

Around Town

Watertown Memorial Day Parade Shines Despite the Drizzly Weather

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The steady drizzle on Memorial Day did not dampen the patriotic spirits of people who came out to cheer on Watertown’s annual parade on Monday. 

Featured speaker Cynthia Talbert, a retired captain in the U.S. Navy,  reminded those at the ceremony after the parade that Memorial Day weekend is not all about cookouts, sales and a long weekend. “I am reminded of the simple inscription on the Korean War Memorial – Freedom is Not Free,” Talbert said. “It is important to remember why we are here. We hope every war puts and end to all wars, sadly that is not the reality.” Finding a way to inspire men and women to join the military is important, said Talbert.

Around Town

See Who Will be Marching in Watertown’s Memorial Day Parade

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Watertown’s Memorial Day Parade will be held on Monday, and will include some special guests, including the family of fallen Watertown Firefighter Joseph Toscano. The parade begins at noon on Monday at the corner of Mt. Auburn and Arlington streets, and ends in front of Town Hall on Main Street. Following the parade a ceremony will be held at Saltonstall Park, next to Town Hall. Here are the participants in the 2017 parade:
Watertown Police Department
Waltham American Legion Band
Gold Star Mothers (Watertown Ford)
25th Marines Honor Guard
Shutt Detachment
Naval Sea Cadets
Middlesex Sherriff’s Office Honor Guard
New England Band Drum Corp
Family of Fire Fighter Joseph Toscano
Watertown Fire Department
The Honorable Few (motorcycles)
Merrimack Valley Military Vehicle Group
Ancient Order of the Hibernians
AOH Drum and Pipe Band
DAV Van (Dennis Gill) Amvets Post 14
Watertown Son’s of Italy
Watertown Provincial Guard
North End Marching Band Of Boston
Watertown Town and Local Officials
Watertown Savings Bank
The National Lancers
Recreation Department
Blue Bells
DM Productions (DJ Dan McCarthy)
Scouts of Watertown (Troop 30)
Girl Scouts of Eastern Mass.

Around Town

Watertown Has a Long List of Events During Memorial Day Week

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This year’s Memorial Day activities include veterans visiting schools, pacing of wreaths and the ever popular Memorial Day Parade. Watertown Veterans Agent Mark Comeiro announced the schedule for Memorial Day Week. 2017 Memorial Day Week Activities:

Placing of Flags:

WEDNESDAY: 24 May2017 at 5:00 pm:  Meet at Ridgelawn Cemetery

*RAIN DATE THURSDAY MAY 25, 2017*
Flags will be placed at veterans’ graves at all Watertown cemeteries by Veteran organizations and Volunteers
FRIDAY 26 MAY 2017: Veterans School Visitation:
8:45 a.m. – Lowell Elementary School
9:00 a.m. – Watertown High School
9:30 a.m. – Cunniff Elementary School
10:00 a.m. – Watertown Middle School
11:00 a.m. – Hosmer Elementary School
SUNDAY 28 MAY 2017: Morning Services and Dedications:
7:00 a.m.   – Cottage Street Cemetery
7:10 a.m. – Coolidge Square POW/MIA Monument
7:15 a.m.  – Arlington Street Cemetery
7:30 a.m.    – WWI Memorial Stone – (front of Shutt Detachment)
7:45 a.m.    – Common Street Cemetery
8:00 a.m.   – Charles River Float
8:10 a.m. – World War II Memorial Stone (front of Town Hall)
8:30 a.m.   – Saltonstall Park
 
8:55 a.m.    –  Moxley Field (AMVETS Post 14)
9:10 a.m.    –  Ridgelawn Cemetery
9:30 a.m.    – St. Patrick's Cemetery
10:00 a.m. – Veteran’s Mass at St. Patrick’s Church
MONDAY 29 MAY 2017: Parade:
10:30a.m – 11:30a.m. – Parade Check-in at TUFTS Parking lot
12:00p.m. – Parade Begins
(A Memorial Day ceremony will be held at Saltonstall Park, next to Town Hall following the parade.)

Around Town

Public Welcome to Help Place Flags on Veterans’ Gravesites for Memorial Day

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Watertown will hold its annual Flag Marker disbursement at Veterans Gravesites on Wednesday May 24, 2017 beginning at 5 p.m., Watertown Veterans Services Officer Mark Comeiro said. If anyone would like to volunteer to assist in this honorable event, please meet at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Watertown or call the Veterans Office at 617-972- 6416. In the event that it rains, we will shift the date to the following day, Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 5 p.m.

Charity

Public Can Help With Watertown Rotary Service Projects for Troops, Hungry Children

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The Rotary Club of Watertown invites the public to join them at two community service projects, one in May and one that is ongoing. 

Watertown Rotary President Lilia Weisfeldt sent out the following announcement:
Operation American Soldier – Tuesday, May 16 from 5:30-8 p.m.
This is a great community service project that is quick, easy and fun! We will be packing care packages that will be sent to American soldiers around the world to brighten their day. Pizza will be provided at 5:30 p.m. and we will be packing care packages from 6-8 p.m.
Please RSVP to Lilia Weisfeldt (lilia@ballroominboston.com) if you are interested in joining the packing party. This event is open to all ages so feel free to invite your kids, grandkids, etc. Food for Thought Bag Packing: Thursdays from 10:30-11:45 a.m.
The Rotary Club of Watertown’s Food for Thought program kicked off in January and we are still going strong!

Around Town

Crowd Gathers in Watertown to Mark 75th Anniversary of Attacks on Pearl Harbor

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Dozens of Watertown’s veterans gathered on the Watertown Square Dock for a somber ceremony to mark one of the most infamous days in American history – the attacks on Pearl Harbor. Across the nation at noon, wreaths were laid in honor of the 75th anniversary of Japan’s sneak attack on the United States’ Pacific Fleet in Hawaii. In Watertown, the wreath was tossed into the Charles River with the veterans and dozens of others watching. The town has a connection to that tragic Sunday morning, said Veteran’s Officer Mark Comeiro. “At about 8 a.m. Japanese planes filled the skies over Pearl Harbor.

Around Town

Watertown Veterans Council Hosting Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony

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The Watertown Veterans Council invites the public to attend Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. On Wednesday, December 7, 2016, The Watertown Veterans Council will be hosting a Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Ceremony located at the Charles River Dock, Watertown, MA 02472. The ceremony will begin at 12 p.m. and last approximately 30 minutes. Please join us in supporting our WW2 Veterans as this meaningful event is open to everyone.