Melrose's 2011 Memorial Day Week Events Announced

Melrose will hold a variety of events saluting and honoring the city's servicemen and women in the days leading up to the annual Memorial Day parade on Sunday, May 29, City Hall announced in a press release on Monday.

As in past years, the parade will start at 1:30 p.m., traveling down Main Street from to on Sylvan Street.

“This will be our biggest and best Memorial Day parade yet,” Mayor Rob Dolan said in the press release. “It will be a very special day, and I hope everyone in Melrose will come out to celebrate our veterans and members of the active military. Most important, we will remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.”

This year’s grand marshal is D-Day veteran and longtime Melrose resident Irving Smolens. Featured bands include:

• The Marching Band,
• Kevin Barry Irish Band
• Bunker Hill Pipe Band (the official pipe band of the Dropkick Murphys),
• Middlesex Volunteer Fife and Drum Corps
• Mexico Lindo Mariachi Band
• Philadelphie Lions drum corps.

The bands will be accompanied by an array of antique cars, vehicles from the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Department, and marchers and floats from Melrose schools and civic organizations.

Anyone wishing to drive their antique car in the parade should arrive at the intersection of Main and West Emerson streets at 12:45 p.m. Please call the in advance to let them know you are coming.

For more information, call Brigid Alverson in Mayor Dolan’s office, 781-979-4440, or e-mail balverson@cityofmelrose.org.

Wednesday, May 25

• 5 p.m. “Honoring our Veterans” Dinner, . Veterans can call 781-979- 4186 to make a reservation (limited at 100).

Friday, May 27

• 8 a.m. Memorial Day Assembly at the Breakfast begins at 8 a.m. and assembly begins at 9 a.m. Veterans wishing to attend are encouraged to call Principal Tom Brow at 781-979-2100 to give your name, branch and dates of service.

Saturday, May 28

• 9 a.m. "Decoration of the Graves” at . New flags are placed on the graves of our deceased veterans. All are invited to help our young boy/girl scouts honor our dead comrades.
• 11 a.m. Flag Retirement Ceremony at (in the back near the ). We will properly dispose of any retired flags. All are welcome.

Sunday, May 29

• 8 a.m. Breakfast for Veterans at
• 10 a.m. WWII and Korean War Memorial Ceremony on Main Street across from
• 10:15 a.m. Vietnam War Memorial Ceremony at .
• 10:30 a.m. WWI Memorial Ceremony at .
• Noon: Memorial Day Religious Service, GAR Room upstairs at
• 12:30 p.m. Parade Muster—Participating Vehicles on Main Street at Floats, antique cars and other mechanized vehicles assemble.
• 12:40 p.m. Melrose Elks Memorial Day Ceremony at 75 Myrtle St.
• 1 p.m. Parade Muster—Participating Marchers. All non-motorized participants assemble behind
• 1:30 p.m. Melrose Memorial Day Parade steps out. Parade route travels down Main Street to Wyoming Cemetery. All Veterans are invited to march or ride on the trolley.
• 2:30 p.m. Memorial Day Closing Ceremonies at at Civil War Memorial and the Veterans section.
• 4 p.m. Collation for Veterans at . Sandwiches, beverages, and camaraderie will be served.