New Traditions Being Planned for Memorial Day in Melrose

Beginning this year, the Memorial Day parade in Melrose will be replaced by activities that better align with how our veterans and their families wish to be honored. The Veterans’ Services Advisory Board made this decision after several years of thoughtful reflection and discussion on the most appropriate ways our community can honor veterans on this solemn holiday.

Colonel Robert Driscoll, Chair of the Melrose Veterans’ Advisory Board, shared, “We want to respect the wishes of our city veterans and honor those Melrosians who made the ultimate sacrifice as well as the families and friends they left behind. We are excited to do so this year with the dedication of our Gold Star Family Memorial. We hope residents will attend and honor these Gold Star Families for whom every day is Memorial Day.”

Roseann Trionfi-Mazzuchelli, Director of Veterans’ Services for the City of Melrose, added, “We will now turn our focus and energy on the true meaning of Memorial Day, which is honoring the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. military.”

Memorial Day activities in Melrose being planned for this year include but are not limited to:

• Decoration of Veteran Graves at Wyoming Cemetery;
• Flag Retirement Ceremony at Wyoming Cemetery;
• Vietnam Veterans Reflection Area Brick Dedication Ceremony; and
• Gold Star Families Memorial Dedication Ceremony.

Complete details on all events will be shared as the weekend draws closer.

To contact the Veterans’ Services Advisory Board, email vso@cityofmelrose.org or call 781-979-4186.